RedEye Mini For iPhone and iPod Touch

RedEye Mini is not a red eye reduction product or a product that is photography related in anyway. RedEye Mini is the latest product release from THINKFLOOD. They are a new company that manufacturers infra-red adapters for the iPhone and iPod Touch devices that allows you to control other devices. The RedEye Mini is a small adapter that plugs into your headphone jack. By installing the associated software, your iPhone or iPod Touch turns into a sophisticated touch screen universal remote control for most of your home appliances.

Eating Healthy on a Busy Schedule

Many of us are busy throughout the day either sitting behind a desk on the computer or travelling with our mobile devices. It is very crucial that we maintain a good healthy diet with exercise. There are times when it just becomes difficult to take the necessary break to enjoy a good relaxing meal during the afternoon or early evening. I have a bad habit of eating unhealthy snacks like cookies, chips, and microwave popcorn.

Digital Camera Mondays: February 22

Today is one of those really gloomy days here in Toronto with snow flurries. Not ideal for picture taking since the lighting conditions and visibility are poor. This does not mean you cannot take some interesting shots though. To give you an idea, I took a couple shots from the top of my building. The first is of a chair covered in show and the other is a more distant view of the area. You can notice in both images a few white blotches which are actually larger clumps of show that appears out of focus.

Technobrains Officially Becomes Canadian

Today – February 8, 2010 is a great day for Technobrains. The domain name www.technobrains.ca is now part of the Technobrains family. Now, Technobrains can be recognized as a true Canadian website. Open to the general public since 2002, Technobrains has become a valued website on the Internet for News and Reviews relating to ALL THINGS MOBILE. Currently, you will be redirected from www.technobrains.ca to www.technobrains.com but this may change in the future.

Quick Look: APPDOPE Website for iPhone

I was just contacted by Morgan Davies who runs www.appdope.com. This is website devoted to iPhone and iPod Touch related software promotions. This site keeps track of newly released software and monitors existing software for price drops and other incentives that benefit the end user.

Every Friday, www.appdope.com also gives away promotional codes to various software titles. According to Morgan, they currently have available over 50 promotional codes to giveaway. Anyone that owns an iPhone or iPod Touch should check out APPDOPE on a regular basis and especially on Fridays. You will need to register an account on APPDOPE and follow the links associated with the giveaway apps to qualify for the promo giveaways. I would suggest you go to www.appdope.com to get the whole story and enjoy what this great website has to offer.

Apple iPad is Full of Juice

I having been reading various comments coming out of yesterdays Apple announcement on the Apple iPad. Some are positive but some are also on the negative side. Overall the impression I have is that the Apple iPad will do well once it becomes available. The starting price of $499.00 USD for the 16 Gb version is enough to peak interest in most people. I feel the Apple iPad is full of juice and not an over hyped product.

The iPad seems to be situated right in the middle of the smartphone and laptop category as far as functionality goes. No other ebook reader on the market currently or coming out this year except for the enTourage eDGe can be placed in the same category. Most are specifically ebook readers with some added online capabilities.

Quick Look: QSTARZ BT-Q1000eX GPS Lap Timer with eXtreme 5Hz log speed

A new handheld GPS unit comes to market with high speed data logging. Typically, a GPS device has been used to capture the location of the user at any given timeframe. Also, GPS units are allowing the user to keep more details about the actual trip like:

Total distance travelled
Total time taken
Average speed for the trip
Waypoints to determine actual route taken

MSI: Musical Keyboard for your iPhone and iPod Touch

I have been a fan of MIDI ever since it became popular in the 80’s. In the 90’s MIDI controller keyboards became available that removed much of the sound processing and programming power from the actual keyboard synthesizer and relied on an external computer system as the source. This was revolutionary for those limited in budget but more importantly allowed musicians to use the keyboard mainly for playing and rely totally on the computer sequencing software to control the MIDI data. Most sequencing software at the time did not recognize specific makes and models of keyboard synths therefore manufacturer specific features were not directly accessible via the various computer music programs when someone used a full featured synthesizer.

I must have a twin working for ION Audio or a designer there must have read my mind. I say this because I have always wanted an external musical keyboard that I could dock into a handheld computer. Not connect via cable like to a laptop but have the keyboard actually merged with the handheld like the Windows Mobile device when they first came out.

Que proReader vs enTourage eDGe

Full page ebook readers will be a huge market this year. With declining PC and netbook sales, the next surge will be tablet PC’s or more importantly PC/ebook/touch screen devices. No more DVD-ROMs, physical hard drives, expensive operating system upgrades or the $1000.00+ price tag.

CES LIVE: Jamie Sorcher Introduces Some of the Latest Products For 2010

Jamie Sorcher joins Bob Katayama from the floor of this years Consumer Electronics Show to tell us about some of the NEW and HOT products for 2010. Just Click the image below to watch:

Products Covered:
LG Next Generation Blu-Ray
Panasonic 3D Television
Polk Audio’s HitMaster
Entourage Edge
Logitech’s Lapdesk

Preview: Pro Zombie Soccer for iPhone

So how do you defeat wave after wave of menacing killer zombies? Why, with your trusty soccer ball of course. Or so it goes with Pro Zombie Soccer, anyway. This tongue-in-cheek look at zombie slaying games is colorful, the music sounds great, and best of all it’s loads of fun.

Interview With Jamie Sorcher Live From the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas

I just had the pleasure of interviewing Jamie Sorcher and Jamie showcased 5 of the NEW and HOT products for 2010.

Products Covered:
Panasonic 3D Television
LG Next Generation Blu-Ray
Polk Audio’s HitMaster
Entourage Edge
Logitech’s Lapdesk
I will be posting the actual video once completed in the next day or two.

Stay tuned.

Bob Katayama Executive Editor

DIY Digital Camera Kit For Kids

Rating 4.00 out of 5

[?]
Digital Camera Thursdays – December 24:
I can remember when I was a little kid, I would take many things apart with a simple screwdriver. I was curious on how a winding alarm clock or a wrist watch looked on the inside. Sometimes, I would wind up breaking a part or two. Luckily my [...]

MSI: Paper-thin Batteries Made from Algae

A number of researchers worldwide are developing paper thin batteries that will allow for paper thin products to hit the consumer shelves in the coming years. One concept being developed use algae which is available all around the world in large quantities. These batteries will be thin and light enough to be combined with traditional paper, fabric or solid material coatings to create all sorts of interactive displays and surface changing features.

Quote from www.livescience.com

“Scientists worldwide are striving to develop thin, flexible, lightweight, inexpensive, environmentally friendly batteries made entirely from nonmetal parts. Among the most promising materials for these batteries are conducting polymers.”

Potential 2012 Christmas gifts from the minds eye of Bob Katayama:

Technobrains Create QUICK LOOK Logo Program For Recommended Products

Rating 3.00 out of 5

[?]Today, www.technobrains.com would like to announce that products that are recommended by our editors/writers can have a “QUICK LOOK Recommended” logo proudly associated with the product. Manufacturers and developers can use this “QUICK LOOK Recommended” logo on their website as part of their product literature and/or packaging.
The popularity of the QUICK LOOK postings on [...]

FLip UltraHD vs KODAK Zx1 Pocket Video Camera

Rating 3.00 out of 5

[?]Small unibody digital cameras are starting to become very popular for those that would like to have a camera handy anytime. The two most recognizable products currentlyavailable are the FLip Nino/Ultra series and the KODAK Zi/Zx series. All are approximately the size of a disposal camera and have simplified controls. For the vs comparison, [...]

Have You FLipped Out Yet? – FLip Ultra From Pure Digital

Rating 3.00 out of 5

[?]I just received a first generation FLip Video camcorder and I had to make this post as soon as I could. This is certainly old news but until I actually got my hands on one of these FLip cams, I had no idea how good the product actually is. If I was to design [...]

Nexus One Google Phone Sneak Peak

Rating 3.00 out of 5

[?]Well, it had to happen eventually. The first images and details about an Android 2.1 based Google phone are now available. The details are still limited but if the information is accurate, the phone should be available for purchase unlocked. This would be great news for someone like myself that would love [...]

Google Chrome Users Rejoice: An RSS Feed Reader Fix Available Online

Rating 3.00 out of 5

[?]I just discovered that our RSS feed is not accessible through Google Chrome. Seems that Google Chrome does not have the RSS support built in at this stage of development. I was able to find an online solution that can be added easily to the Google Chrome Bookmark Bar.
First, you need [...]

MSI: Watching Videos Directly on Your iPod Touch

Downloading videos to my iPod Touch is a real pain just as it has been with most of my music files. Early last year, I used to search the Internet for hacks and applications that would allow me to download videos from Youtube. I finally came across a version of RealPlayer which allows me to download the Youtube video and watch it anytime without streaming/downloading the same file from Youtube each time. Whenever I go to a video on Youtube or some of the other sites, I can mouse over the video and see a download video link appear on the top right of the Adobe Flash based video. Once I click the link, the video is automatically downloaded onto my laptop. This was a great Internet Explorer plugin that came with the FREE RealPlayer download.

Good.iWare Releases Update to its GoodReader File Viewer for iPhone

Rating 3.00 out of 5

[?]Good.iWare announces the latest version of its GoodReader file viewer application for iPhone and iPod Touch, which includes “PDF Reflow” – the most anticipated feature for PDF file readers. A beta of the PDF Reflow feature was available in the previous version, and the final release of it is included in [...]

Eye-Fi Collaborates With Google’s Picasa to Make Storing and Sharing Memories Easier

Rating 3.00 out of 5

[?]Consumers Who Buy 200GB or More of Extra Google Storage Receive a Free Eye-Fi Card in Time for the Holidays
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. — Dec. 8, 2009 — Today Eye-Fi Inc. announced a collaboration with Google’s Picasa that makes sharing and storing memories effortless, just in time for the holidays.  Anyone who [...]

Free For All Weekend: Why I Purchased an iPod Touch

Many of you have known me as a long time Windows Mobile PDA user. During the period of 2004 – 2008, I was also a Microsoft Valuable Professional in the mobility category for my contributions to the Windows Mobile online community. Since 2008, I have noticed a wave of iPhone and iPod Touch users. As with the older iPod devices, these users mainly listened to their vast collection of music and watched the odd TV show or movie. In early 2008, Windows Mobile developers started to contact me for reviews on iPhones and iPod Touch devices. Since I did not own an Apple product, I was not in any position to accept their offer.

As months past, I started to notice a decline in the release of new Windows Mobile games and applications. Looking into this immediately indicated that many Windows Mobile developers had started to expand into the Apple iPhone and iPod Touch arena. I would not have thought twice about this market switch if it was not for the fact that these games and applications were being made available on the iTunes store for 99 cents. Typically a similar game or application on the Windows Mobile would be anywhere from $9.95 – $19.95 with some being much higher. Initially, I took this as a introductory trend and within 4 – 6 months I felt I would start to see a large number of iPhone and iPod Touch applications appear in the $10.00 price range or higher.

Great Deals on iPhone Accessories From Wireless Ground

It’s always great when you can pickup some excellent deals a month before Christmas. Wireless Ground has a large number of deals available for the Apple iPhone and iPod Touch. Many of the deals are 50% off or greater. Also Wireless ground has FREE shipping for purchases over $50.00 USD and a flat rate of $3.95 for purchases under $50.00. You cannot miss this opportunity to purchase an Apple accessory before the Christmas sale is over.

Digital Music Fridays: Alternative to iTunes on Windows

Being a long time PC user, I had also started to use a Mac for artistic reasons in the last 3 years. The Mac computer excels in areas like photo editing, music editing, and various other multimedia based applications. One aspect of the Apple line that I have never really embraced is the iTunes application. I have always enjoyed other PC based applications like Real Player and even Windows Media Player.

I recently acquired a third generation iPod Touch and the more I try to get comfortable with iTunes, the more I dislike iTunes. I have problems transfering or syncing my music collection easily to the ipod Touch due to DRM issues or others issues which the iTune application does not clearly indicate. Transfering files over to the iPod as a generic file is not possible through iTunes. There is no way to see the iPod Touch as a physical drive letter or folder to transfer files to. Everything must be imported into iTunes for syncing and all the non Apple acceptable files cannot be imported for syncing.

New Mobile Shopping Product: “RetrevoQ” Gadget Shopping Advisor Via Twitter & SMS

Rating 3.00 out of 5

[?]Experts at the consumer electronics shopping site, Retrevo.com, are announcing a new mobile shopping advisor service that works from your cell phone. RetrevoQ (as in question) is an automated service designed to give in-store holiday gadget shoppers up-to-the minute shopping advice about the gadgets they see in the store.
 See a gadget [...]

PHIATON RAISES THE BAR ON COMFORT WITH THE ERGONOMICALLY DESIGNED PS 210 EARPHONES

Rating 3.00 out of 5

[?]
Second Generation Primal Series Provides Hours of Comfort Like Never Before

Irvine, CA – Phiaton, the worldwide leader in the audio industry, is introducing the new PS 210 “half in-ear” earphones so that trendy Americans can enjoy many more hours of listening pleasure without feeling constricted. Ergonomically designed to fit just outside [...]

MSI: Missil MP4 Player Video Conversion Issues

Over the past few days, I have been looking into the Missil Line of Mp4 players. These seem to be popping up in clearance centres and discount stores at reasonable prices. Scouring the Internet seems to indicate that many users are having problems playing the various video file formats that are indicated as being suppported.

The problem with the Missil line of Mp4 media players are that the devices are old. The formats supported by the hardware are those that where popular over 2 years ago. To clarify, many of the current video files available for download like Avi, WMS, MP4, MPEG, all use an internal codec that are more upto date and are not backward compatible. Unless the software or firmware on the Missil MP4 players can be updated to handle the newer codec, these current files cannot be played or even recognized as a valid video file format.

Tech Buyers Guide

Populare Science Magazine has made available their Tech Buyers Guide online for FREE viewing.

http://popsci.com/buyersguide

GPS Wednesdays: November 25th

Tips on Buying a Useful Car Navigation GPS
Knowing exactly what you need in a GPS device is very important before making the leap to buying one. There are car navigation versions, mobile versions, marine plus GPS add-ons for PDA and computers. All can be used or adapted for use in the car but none are suited specifically for use in the car like a true car navigation GPS.

TIPS When Buying:

GoPro HD Hero vs VholdR ContourHD – Extreme Sport Digital Camera

Extreme Sports have been very popular in the last 20+ years. It has always been a challenge for these sports enthusiasts to visually document their amazing accomplishments. Digital cameras have allowed many in the past 10 years or so to strap on a handheld camera to their helmet or carry as they performed their daredevil stunts. These cameras are bulky and prone to all sorts of problems. Within the last 2 years, we have seen some interesting advances in portable HD camera designs. The two cameras I will compare are specifically designed for the extreme sports enthusiast to strap on and record their achievements in 1080p HD video.

Free For All Weekend – November 22nd

We are now in the tail end of November and we have experienced one of the best November weather in a good number of years. This has allowed me to devote more time outdoors instead of being under the covers staying warm. To maximize the enjoyment of this great weather, I have been taking part in various activities. Most activities are those that allowed me to get some exercise and enjoy the simple things in life.

Are You Addicted to Twitter? – If so, You Need This New Device Called the TwitterPeek.

I thought carrying a cellphone, point and shoot camera, MP3 player and a PDA was bad enough. How about adding a TwitterPeek device to the collection? This new offering seems like a great addition to the geeky mobile person I have become. It is a simple device that allows you send and receive emails plus do twittering on the go. The cost of the device is not cheap though. At $199.00 USD, it is not a really high cost but the advanatge is it comes with a lifetime of free service with no added cost or contracts. There is the option to buy a unit for only $99.00 USD with a 6 months worth of free service and the added service fee afterwards is only $7.95 per month USD which is not bad either.

Will this technology really take off?

Will Coins and Bills Eventually Disappear to be Replaced With an Electronic Wallet?

In Canada it is taken for granted that we can use our ATM/ABM (Automated Teller Machines – Automated Bank Machines) cards to buy gas, food at groceries, restaurants, liquor stores and elsewhere. Most places of business accept direct debit card transactions. Some places do pose a $5.00 minimum but that is a small price to pay for added convenience. Sure most countries accept credit cards for the same type of purchases but not always a debit card. Even in the United States, many states lack the acceptance of debit cards unless it is a debit card and credit card combination like a Mastercard debit card. These cards are not the same since you still need to top up the Mastercard debit card when the funds run low on the card.

In most Canadian cities, you have ATM/ABM machines in banks open 24/7, in convenience stores, bars and even ATM/ABM only locations. Some cities even have ATM/ABM drive thru. The only convenience area that still lacks the use of an ATM/ABM card is on vending machines. Some do exist but not a common sight yet. To carry cash or go to a bank to withdraw cash first before shopping is nolonger a neccessity. Many major retailers and businesses also allow a CASH BACK transaction with the purchase. This makes it truly convenient when you are strapped for time.

CyberLink DVD Suite Bundled with HLDS (LG) New Line of DVD Burners

Rating 3.00 out of 5

[?]

http://www.cyberlink.com/
Connected Media Lifestyle

Press Release
For Immediate Release

CyberLink DVD Suite Bundled with HLDS (LG) New Line of DVD Burners 
Taipei, Taiwan—November 16, 2009—CyberLink Corp. (5203.TW), innovative solutions provider for the connected media lifestyle, today announced that Hitachi-LG Data Storage Inc., (HLDS) will bundle CyberLink DVD Suite with its latest DVD-W burners.
CyberLink DVD Suite integrates [...]

Digital Camera Mondays: November 16th

Many amateur photographers feel that they lack the quality in their photos since their equipment they use is not as great as those used by professional photographers. Professionals do have an advantage over amateurs purely by the fact that their equipment are more expensive and higher in imaging quality. This does not automatically mean someone with an expensive camera will always take better photos. Many professionals lack one element when on a photo shoot. This element is time therefore many professionals use the more expensive cameras to allow them to quickly adjust and set the camera for the ever changing lighting conditions or use equipment that is specifically suited for the condition they are shooting in. Lower priced consumer cameras take much longer to adjust for each shooting condition meaning the opportunity to take that one money making shot could be lost.

Today, I wanted to discuss how you can utilize your existing camera equipment to improve your photos since time is not an issue. First and foremost is you need to understand the ins and outs of your current camera. All digital cameras have a number of buttons that allow for customization. Be it from adjusting the ISO setting, white balance, how the camera focuses, if the flash is on or off etc. . .

Quick Photo Tip – Using the Point and Shoot Auto Focus

Most amateur photographers are in a hurry when taking photos. At a gathering, picnic, concert or just taking photos in general, most users just press the shutter button and hope for the best. One specific feature built into all cameras that most take for granted is the auto focus. Most people feel that just the press of the button to shoot the image is sufficient for the camera to focus and take that good photo. In many situations, this is not the case. Many point and shoot cameras lack the speed in making the proper adjustments in that micro second available during the press of the shutter button. Therefore, all camera makers provide the ability for the camera to auto focus by pressing the shutter button half way for 3 – 5 seconds before pressing the shutter button all the way to snap the photo.

New Canon EOS 1D Mark IV DSLR – Is it a still camera or a video camera?

As an avid photographer for decades, I have been struggling to take high quality images at night. Certainly the latest technology allows low light shots of still objects and specific moving objects like fireworks relatively well but still has its limitations. Pushing the ISO range beyond 800 ISO means a higher level of noise is introduced into the image causing a grainy image in the end. Higher quality the camera, the lower amount of image noise and higher light sensitivity.

Once you introduce any level of motion into an image taken at night using only the available lighting, the image taken will have blurring, or ghosting occur. Very few cameras to date are capable of taking great night shots using only the available lighting. Certainly, external lighting and flashes can be added to compensate but in most cases, forces the image to be washed out or unnatural. Recently Canon released a new version of their EOS DSLR camera that seems to truly allow photographers to capture the natural low light essence of any night shot. If it looks great to the naked eye, the Canon 1D Mark IV should be able to reproduce an image that comes really close.

HD Video Cam for Sports Enthusiasts Come of Age

For years I have been looking for a good HD camera or a camera that is portable, small and allows something over 640 X 480 resolution. Companies do make small cameras in the $300.00 price range but are not suited for my use which would be to mount on a RC plane or bike helmet. I just came across a new camera that is manufactured just for this purpose called the VholdR ContourHD 1080p. It does not have the fancy zoom, external lighting, or LCD display but perfect for mounting for use in extreme conditions.

CyberLink Launches TrueTheater Enhancer, the Video Playback Enhancer for YouTube

Rating 3.00 out of 5

[?]
Taipei, Taiwan—October 15, 2009—CyberLink Corp. (5203.TW), innovative solutions provider for the connected media lifestyle today released CyberLink TrueTheater Enhancer that improves the playback quality of videos on YouTube™, including “High Quality” and “HD” online video content. Based on the same advanced TrueTheater Technology that is featured in CyberLink’s leading DVD player [...]

GREAT HEADPHONES ARE LIKE READING GLASSES FOR YOUR AUDIO BOOK

Rating 3.00 out of 5

[?]

 Phiaton Offers Book Lovers a Great Listen;
Announces $100 Discount With Audiobooks from Audible.com!
– Hi Res Photos and Review Samples Available Upon Request –
 
Irvine, CA – Phiaton, a top premium headphone brand is giving book lovers an ultimate audiobook experience from Audible.com, a leading provider of premium digital spoken-word information and entertainment.  Starting [...]

Digital Camera Mondays: September 14th

Today I wanted to discuss two aspects of photography that will really help you to improve your photos quickly and add some real visual impact. The two topics are the RULE OF THIRDS and the APERTURE setting on the camera. Both are relatively simple to grasp especially if your camera has the necessary features built in.

MSI: Apple iPhone – Software Quick Look

Apple iPhone users should read Eric’s QUICK LOOK’s on iTouch/iPhone software. These overviews on third party software programs are a great source to determine if your hard earned money and time is worth the investment. If any of the titles listed in the Comprehensive Reviews/ 1 QUICK LOOK section are of interest to you, just read Eric’s comments before making the decision to download or purchase.

Pimp Your Tech – Tips on How to Accessorize Our Favorite Gadgets

Users of electronic devices can truly enhance the enjoyment of their device with the addition of accessories. Power and performance improvements are just some of the added benefits. There are accessories geared towards kids, students and the budget conscious.

Technobrains.com Interviews Colleen Lerro From the Consumer Electronics Association

At 9:15 am this morning, I had the privilege of interviewing Colleen Lerro from the Consumer Electronics Association over the telephone. For those not familiar with the CEA, CEA produces the annual CES (Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas). If you have never been to the Consumer Electronics Show, you have to make a trek at least once to experience this grand showcase in person of thousands of new consumer products.

Portable Power in Style: Jumpstart Chargers Keep Your Devices Always Powered

Rating 3.00 out of 5

[?]
Sleek, attractive designs perfect for the active lifestyle; cell phones, smart phones, handheld games and other USB devices
 
AVANEL, NJ. 29, 2009 – Digipower, makers of mobile power solutions for electronic devices, today announced the launch of the Jumpstart family of universal chargers led by its flagship product the Jumpstart Sport. [...]

CyberLink Partners with VIA to Deliver Lossless HD Audio Playback with Blu-ray Content Protection

Rating 3.00 out of 5

[?]
Taipei, Taiwan—May 27, 2009—CyberLink Corporation (5203.TW), innovative solutions provider for the connected digital lifestyle, announced today its partnership with VIA Technologies, Inc. to enable the VIA Vinyl VT1818S and VT1828S HD audio codecs within PowerDVD, delivering unsurpassed HD audio playback at 192kHz/24bit.  The VIA Vinyl VT1818S and VT1828S are high fidelity, [...]

Two Tribes B.V. and Chillingo Announce Toki Tori Promotion Contest

Rating 3.00 out of 5

[?]Toki Tori Enthusiasts Win Awesome Prizes For Promoting the Game
In preparation of the May 22nd Toki Tori iPhone launch, in conjunction with the celebration of the one year anniversary of the WiiWare™ game, Two Tribes and Chillingo are inviting gamers to show off their creative skills in the newly launched Toki [...]

Watch Quality TV For FREE with a $2.99 Upgrade

Wassup! Today – Over the past 10 years or so, I was subscribing to cable TV that was not the greatest as far as the picture quality goes. The lower channels from 6 – 2 would always be grainy and the rest would get worse over time. Every 6 to 8 months, I would have to bleed the cable line to eliminate the static build up. The first time I ran into poor quality, I called the cable company and that was all the repair person did. Attach a fancy device to the incoming cable line and remove the static built up in the cabling. Over the years, I would resort to bleeding the cable line myself by attaching a self made cable adapter that would connect to the radiator piping. after about 5 minutes, I would reconnect the cable to the TV and the picture quality would be better.

Review: Bluetooth Stereo Sunglasses From Trispecs

Wassup! Today – Bluetooth headsets have become very popular in the last couple of years since many countries have instituted a law prohibiting drivers from using a cell phone that is held against your ear while driving. Most of these Bluetooth headsets have been the mono/single earpiece design. The lack of wireless stereo headsets was mainly due to the fact that a phone conversation is mono in nature plus the lack of software or Bluetooth stereo profile support. Now that the proper stereo profile A2DP (Advanced Audio Distribution profile) and the remote control profile AVRCP (Audio/Video Remote Control Profile) has been created, we are able to take advantage of the stereo music that many cell phones support now wirelessly. To add more style and functionality to the wireless stereo music enjoyment and cell phone call access, Trispecs has combined the stereo Bluetooth headset support into a stylist pair of sunglasses.

Storage Appliance Corp. Introduces Clickfree Traveler, World’s Smallest Totally Automatic PC Backup Device

Rating 3.00 out of 5

[?]
Storage Appliance Corp. introduces Clickfree Traveler, world’s smallest totally automatic PC backup device, and Clickfree Transformer, a simpler way to burn data to optical discs
The size of a credit card, the Clickfree Traveler slips easily into a wallet;
New Clickfree DVD Transformer bypasses tricky CD & DVD burning software

TORONTO – MAY 7, [...]

Review: Siso Tablo From Hantech

Wassup! Today – The Siso Tablo from www.hantech.ca is certainly an interesting product to review. First off, I have been using a Wacom 4 X 6 drawing tablet for some time now. Great for drawing programs, navigating quickly on Internet Explorer and numerous other programs. The problem I have always had with the Wacom was I cannot easily use it with my laptop when the desk space is limited. The added space required for the Wacom drawing tablet is always an issue. Taking the tablet on the road is not really convenient also. Now the Siso Tablo solves the limited desk space issue nicely and is made for convenient use on the road as well.

The Popularity of The Linux Operating System

Wassup! Today – I just read an article HERE by Preston Gralla that states in conclusion, “Linux will never become a mainstream operating system on desktops, and so for client machines, it will remain largely confined to netbooks. Market surveys have shown that Linux sales on netbooks have plunged to only 10% of netbooks.

Given that, how will Linux ever reach 10% to 20% of the market? The answer: It never will. It will remain a niche operating system, and a very good one at that.”

www.Last.fm Account Not Actually FREE!!!

Wassup! Today – I did a Versus POST on March 24th. I did not know at the time when the Versus post was written that the account I created on last.fm was FREE for a limited time only. I received a message about 30 days afterwards that I only have 30 songs left before the trial expires. The service would like to charge me $3.00 USD per month to continue using their services. I am not crazy about paying any price for what they offer. I will use other services like what iTunes and other sites offer which are 100% FREE for the unforeseeable future.

Has Android Already Failed?

Wassup! Today – Has Android Already Failed? is the title for a post written by Sacha Segan for www.pcmag,com. Is this truly the trend we see in Google Android? I do not feel that the Google Android is ready to be classified as a dead operating system just yet. The main point to his argument is that the company is already pushing the Android OS for use on other categores like laptops, set-top boxes and cars plus the first offering through HTC was not an overwhelming success. What I feel Sacha is missing is that it takes a long period of exposure and updates before the operating system can fully mature. By introducing the OS to other categories, this will allow drivers, OS upgrades, and applications to be created that appeal to a wider market. The very first G1 from HTC was really a launch to get the product into the hands of third party developers and mobility geeks to showcase how robust Android is and the simplicity to customize.

What is The Future For Skype?

Wassup! Today – Skype created huge waves when it first appeared online in August of 2003. In September of 2005, Skype was bought by eBay for 2.6 billion dollars. The software based telephone service was a big draw for many Internet users since it allowed users to call other Skype users anywhere in the world for FREE. There were other VOIP services around but Skype at the time offered the clearest audio quality and the least amount of audio lag. Ever since eBay bought the company, the subscriber base and usage of the paid features has not really increased to offset the original purchase price of the company. Apparently, Skype generated 126 million dollars in the first quarter of 2009 with 309 million users world wide.

Handmark Provides End to End Store Front Solutions For Independent Developers

Wassup! Today – Handmark has just announced their own mobile solution for independent developers to quickly create a branded online App Store that allows for maximum sales potential. The announcement does not go into any details about this new offering. Questions that stll need answering:

MSI: The Deal Between Lexcycle and Amazon.com

Wassup! Today -The BLOG @ Lecycle.com has announced that their product STANZA and the company has been bought by Amazon. The company created about 1 year ago released STANZA on the APPLE APP Store for FREE. I was curious to find out why this deal was important to Amazon and what STANZA really offered that was appealing. There are a number of other e-book reading software available for the iPhone also like:

Walking Down the APPLE Memory Lane

Wassup! Today -It has been almost 33 years since Steve Jobs first started APPLE Computers. Since his absence from the company from January of 2009, the company seems to be very quiet. There is a good online history of Steve Jobs and APPLE posted HERE by The New York Times. It is truly amazing to see how APPLE has actually gone from a small company offering the original APPLE II computer to the company it is today.

Digital Camera Mondays: April 27

Wassup! Today -Checking Your Rechargeable Batteries

Now that we are finally getting into warmer weather, more and more of us will be out and about enjoying the great outdoors. This means dusting off that digital camera and accessories to capture the spring bloom or active wild life. One practice I always do this time of year is make sure the batteries are up to snuff. Currently rechargeable batteries are of the Lithium based design. These are batteries that recharge relatively quickly and hold a strong charge like 1800 – 2600 mAh (milliampere hour) for the commonly used AA rechargeable batteries. Keep in mind I frequently mention rechargeable Lithium batteries and not just Lithium batteries because there are standard Lithium AA batteries you can buy for around the same price as rechargeables which are not rechargeable. These are use once and throw away batteries which contain more power over standard alkaline batteries and should never be recharged.

Rusty Reviews For March 2009

Rating 3.00 out of 5

[?]Yes, now that April is almost over, I thought it would be a good idea to recap everything I reviewed at my own site, Rusty Sabre.  It wasn’t quite as busy a month as February, but we still managed to get some interesting reviews in.  Here’s the list:
The Quest
Sliders – Match [...]

Bluetooth Trispecs Stereo Fashion Eyewear

Wassup! Today – Everywhere I go nowadays, I see someone talking and walking as if they are talking to themselves. It is not until I take a closer look that I realize they have one of the many mono Bluetooth headset connected wirelessly to their cell phone. A few years back Oakley released an MP3 player embedded inside a pair of fashion sunglasses. Currently the various models range from $270.00 – $390.00 CAD.

Quick Look: Cinemin Swivel Pico DLP Video Projector

Wassup! Today – Last year the big news in video projection was the release of various Texas Instruments DLP processor based pico handheld projectors. Another version will hit the market soon called the Cinemin Swivel. This is one of the smallest I have discovered thus far. Designed to connect to a number of mobile devices including the Apple iPhone.

Quick Look: External Hard Drive Backup From Clickfree

Wassup! Today – External backup systems have been around almost as long as laptops. There are numerous backup choices out there from various hard drive manufacturers and memory manufacturers like Maxtor and Lexar. A new backup manufacturer has appeared on the scene called Clickfree. This manufacturer offers a selection of external hard drives that require no software installation and configuration. All you do is plug the drive into a USB port and forget about it. The package automatically recognizes over 400 file types. The laptop I am currently writing this post on has a 70 Gb hard drive therefore I would require 80+ to be comfortable that an external drive can backup everything contained on this unit. Clickfree sells various sizes and the starting size is 120 Gb with the cost being $89.99. This is a great deal for an external USB backup drive that is small and requires no software installation or configuration.

Free For All Weekend: April 25

Wassup! Today – Protecting Your Kids
More and more parents are now getting cell phones for their teen and pre-teens in an effort to protect them and make them safer. For the most part, I do not blame the parents for this rise in cell phone usage by kids. The manner in which the industry is promoting the services is the main culprit. Companies are making cell phones in sizes and colors that appeal to young kids This article on MSNBC covers some of these phones for kids. Another promotional avenue is for cell phone carriers is to provide a family plan and also have special deals on phones like BUY ONE and GET ONE FREE. The ability to interact with TV shows and radio programs geared towards kids via SMS messaging is another way companies can get more kids to use cell phones and generates added revenue.

Digital Music Fridays: April 24

Wassup! Today -Kurzweil Keyboard

I have been a huge fan of Kurzweil keyboards ever since there first release in 1983 of the K250. Kurzweil recently released the PC361 Controller. This keyboard has 61-note lightly-weighted synth action with velocity and aftertouch sensitive keys with 128 voice polyphony and over 850 preset sounds. This keyboard is like having a synthesizer, controller keyboard and sequencer in one unit. The PC361 is a MIDI sythesizer which uses the newer MIDI through USB connection which allows for the fastest data rate possible for the MIDI signal. You can find the full specifications HERE. Plenty of onboard controls that can be accessed from the computer connected via the USB.

We are on Twitter @ twitter.com/technobrains

Wassup! Today -We have been on Twitter for a week now. The search on Twitter does not seem to be quick on the draw as far as adding new accounts to its search feature. You can simply follow us by going to Technobrains.

For those not familiar with Twitter will quickly realize that Twitter is a great way to understand what your freinds and family are doing without getting deeply personal and having to weed through hundreds of email rants that take away from your productive day. Individual posts are limited to 140 characters or less thus the postings are short and to the point. There is absolutely no obligation for you to respond back to the postings as you would with a traditional email.

Review: Cyberlink PowerDirector 7

Wassup! Today – Video editing has suddenly become a huge hobby for many with the popularity of YOUTUBE and other online video sharing websites. I have never been a fan of software that comes packaged with the video hardware equipment. If it was possbile to purchase the hardware only and save a few dollars I would do so. Many professionals use software from a company called Avid which makes the Avid Media Composer 3.5. This is an online and offline editor which allows you to create a low res copy of the original as a working copy and then transfer all the reference data back to the master copy for final rendering. Great piece of software but unfortunately for most of us, the software is just too expensive @ $2500.00 USD and has a high learning curve. This is where a software program like Cyberlink’s PowerDirector 7 comes in.

Open Source Hardware the Wave of New Mobility Products

Wassup! Today – Yesterday, I briefly touched on the topic of OPEN SOURCE HARDWARE by mentioning an innovative device being introduced on TED. I have been aware of a group called Bug Labs that have been doing some creative designs for some time now. What is uniquely special about Bug Labs design is that all their OPEN SOURCE HARDWARE products are modular and designed to fit the form factor of all their other modular products.

The Future of Mobile Interactive Devices

Wassup! Today – A presentation of a device being developed has been posted on TED. This device has been created using off the shelf products for $350.00 USD and has a huge potential in making our lives so much easier and more intuitive. To really appreciate what this device can do, you have to go HERE to see the short video.

Technobrains Now on Twitter. . .

Wassup! Today – Social networking sites are truly exploding even with the recession. I have been reluctant until now to be apart of an online social network since email alone is a full time activity on to itself. The beauty of twitter is that what you say is limited to 140 characters only. All you do is answer one question – “what are you doing”? Interested twitterers or twits can follow you and leave comments if interested. It’s a great way to let people in a private or public group know what you are up to without getting into too much details.

Mastercard Launches a FREE Mobile “ATM Hunter ” Application

Wassup! Today -The new “ATM Hunter” application from MasterCard for the iPhone and iPod touch enables users to locate the nearest ATM anywhere in the world they are. MasterCard ATM Hunter is the first in a series of FREE applications that MasterCard is developing specifically for the iPhone and iPod touch.

PDA Tuesdays: April 14

Wassup! Today! Get an Accessroy for Your Mobile Device Tomorrow and Recieve a 25% Discount
PPCTECH is offerring a 25% discount on all accessory orders processed tomorrow April 15th. If you have a PDA, cell phone or iPod, you can go to www.ppctech.com to place your order. Use the code TAXDISC09 during check out in the special instructions/comments field to recieve your discount.

Google Releases Update to Android Software

Preview: Hot Pursuit for Windows Mobile

eSoft Interactive is back, bringing us more Windows Mobile goodness in the form of Hot Pursuit, to be released on or around April 14th. The game will get your stylus tapping and your brain churning as you try and catch thieves in this worldwide epic inspired by Carmen Sandiego. Check out my quick preview, and expect a full review soon.

GPS Wednesdays: April 08

Wassup! Today – Real World Interactions Using Yellowpin
The next generation of social lifestyle tool is now available. The product is called Yellowpin and originally appeared on Facebook as an add-on application. It’s a very simple application to use and take advantage of. Anyone with a SMS capable phone can easily send a text message and have their activity and location made available to all their buddies in the social network.

MSI: Plug in Computers

Wassup! Today – Awhile back I had reviewed a product that allows you to use your home wiring to extend your networking capabilities. The product called the Megaplug AV is available for $169.00 USD. This product uses two boxes about the size of a standard electrical outlet plate. The Pogoplug is a similar sized box that allows you to configure any USB based mass storage device for access via the Internet for $99.00 USD. Once you connect the Pogoplug to an electrical outlet and connect your Internet router and an external mass stoarge device, you can go online and configure the device for access via the Internet. This means files stored on the mass storage device can be accessed while on the road or made available on a website via my.pogoplug.com website. You can send a simple link to files and images to friends and family easily using this device. No more third party websites, like www.flickr.com, smugmug.com and others required to host your public images or sensitive files.

Digital Camera Mondays: April 6

Wassup! Today -30 Megapixel DSLR Camera From Pentax

I just came across a Japanese article released by Pentax that a 30 megapixel camera will be released in the near future. I was wondering when I read this how many megapixels do we actually need in the end? I thought maybe a fair comparison would be the human eye and I did some looking around. According to wiki.answers.com, The human eye has a resolution of anywhere from 324 megapixels to 576 megapixels depending on the actual field of view angle that is used. Now if these numbesr are accurate, certainly we still have a long ways to go to matching the quality our eyes can reproduce.

MSI: Siso Tablo For Laptops

Wassup! Today -A few years back, I had invested in a new laptop from Dell. The Dell Inspiron 6000 series which cost around $1200.00 at the time. The price was very reasonable for all the bells and whistles it came with. Around the same time, many companies also manufactured tablet PCs which where laptops with a built in stylus. Generally costing around $2000.00+. The advantage of a stylus can be truly experienced when using a graphic related application like Adobe Photoshop. The pinpoint accuracy of the stylus makes free hand drawing directly on the screen that much more enjoyable in the end compared to using a mouse.

Digital Music Fridays: April 3

Wassup! Today -Things to Consider Before Buying Your First Music Player

Everywhere I go nowadays on the subway, I see people with an Apple music player of some kind. Various iPods, iPhone and the iTouch are certainly popular. I on the other hand use a traditional MP3 player or a Windows Mobile device for listening to music. For me, it has always been a Microsoft Windows CE based PDA for listening to music. There are a number of reasons why I stay with a Windows Mobile device but the main one is that most of my music is in a Mp3 format.

Don’t be Caught Off Guard With The Flu

Wassup! Today – Last week I was stricken with a case of a very bad flu. I am still recovering and the worst part lasted 4 days. Bad for me is when I spend 20+ hours on my back each day for more than 2 days resting. This flu, like the one I previously had was far more severe than anything I had in the past couple of decades. I have heard that new strains and more virulent strains are appearing lately and I wanted to find out more about them.

Digital Music Fridays: March 27

Wassup! Today – Headphones Reviews
This is a website dedicated to reviewing headphones only and is located at www.goodcans.com.

Digital Imaging Thursdays: March 26

Wassup! Today – Photo of the Day:

I had the opportunity last year to take a tour of a Canadian Friget in Toronto. The military band was playing on the docks and I captured this image of just the tuba section.

GPS Wednesdays: March 25

Wassup! Today – GPS Tracking Online
If you have ever watched any of the Police dramas on TV, you would certainly seen them use a system online that allows the police to enter a phone number and have the users location detected on a map. Now, you can do this yourself by going to the Mobile Tracker and entering the persons phone number. Actually this is not a real system but a joke system setup by the folks at www.megapranks.com. You can enter a phone number to track or not enter a number at all and click the Start Searching button. You will eventually see a map and then watch the satellite camera zoom right into the actual location of the user. Of course this is just but an intertaining one for a short period. You will certainly see what I mean once you go to the link above and try this out yourself.

Revolutionary Multi-player Online Gaming Coming Soon

Wassup! Today – Console gaming has been very popular for decades starting with the original Nintendo Entertainment System. Within the past 5 years we have seen companies like Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo release very powerful DVD based gaming systems with spectacular graphics, 3D sound and amazing game play. The down side to this for many is the constant upgrading of the hardware and the added cost of $30.00+ for new gaming titles with some being over $70.00.

www.last.fm vs. www.theradio.com

Wassup! Today -LAST.FM vs. THERADIO.

During the last couple of months I have enjoyed www.theradio.com. The ability to just go to the URL and have my favorite station play automatically is really sweet. Recently though, I have noticed advertising popping up as soon as I go to the website and after 6+ songs. Not so cool anymore when the flow of music is interrupted with a 15 second commercial.

PDA Tuesdays: March 23

Wassup! Today – The Battle of the Handheld Marketplace:
In the late 1990’s, Palm Inc., released the Palm Pilot which started the PDA recolution. Basically the Personal Digital Assistant was born which allowed you to do more than just track phone numbers and play simple games. Hundreds of productivity applications turned into thousands of applications that ranged from being FREE to costing over $20.00 USD. Certainly, the Palm Pilot was not the first handheld device o the market but was the first to truly introduce the masses to a handheld productivity device.

Digital Camera Mondays: March 23

Wassup! Today – Sharing Your Pictures
It is always more exciting when you can share your fond memories with others by sending your pictures to friends and family. www.flickr.com is a popular site though there are dozens of many others out there too. Keep in mind most FREE sites like Flickr limit you to the number of photos you can have or the total storage you have available. This means you must delete old pictures as you start to run low on storage space. This can be lots of work and in many cases too much work to maintain once you get into 100’s of pictures.

Digital Music Fridays: March 20

Wassup! Today – LAST.FM

So what is last.fm?

Well last.fm is another online music site. There are plenty of them around but last.fm has some atrributes that make it stand out. I have never been a fan of FREE sites that expect you to sign up to access the features even though it maybe a simple and quick process. I have too many accounts with a unique login name and password already therefore I kringe when a site asks me to register.

Anyways, I had to try last.fm just to see what makes them tick for Digital Music Fridays. Here is a short list of what I like about last.fm.

GPS Wednesdays: March 18

Wassup! Today – Garmin Nuvi Series of Stand alone GPS Units
Garmin has an very interesting line of GPS units geared mainly for North American usage that will be released in the second quarter of 2009. There are a number of units all with the same external design with specific internal differences. There are currently 8 new models to choose from:

New Syndicated Feed From Technoblabber -Please Excuse the Hiccups

Wassup! Today – The latest Syndicated feed is coming from www.technoblabber.com. It’s run by “2 Dudes Rambling About Neat Stuff” and they are new to the blog scene. They are still working their way around Wordpress and you may see some broken feeds now and then. They are learning quick but more importantly have some unique views on technology which you will certainly enjoy reading.

PDA Tuesdays: March 17

Wassup! Today – Powerful and Rugged Windows Mobile
It not often I see a Windows Mobile device with loads of features built right in. The latest offering from Nautiz is certainly one that has everything I would expect in a fully featured Windows Mobile device.

Digital Camera Mondays: March 16

Wassup! Today – Don’t be Fooled by Just High Megapixels

Ever since early 2008, I have been seeing all sorts of higher megapixel cameras come out in the markeplace. Point and shoot cameras with 8 – 10 megapixels with some even in the 12 megapixel range. Not all cameras are created equal and the actual image sensing chip used can make a huge difference in the actual image output. When you are in the market for a new camera, always try them out carefully before deciding on your final choice.

How to Protect Yourself When Using Someone Elses Computer

Wassup! Today -If you tend to use someone elses computer on occasion, it is important that any personal information like website login information or duplicate saved files are not stored on the computer. Depending on how the Internet Explorer in a Windows PC is setup, there can be a number of areas where access details are automatically saved.

1: The browser can store a history of all recent websites visited.

2: Information entered in web based forms can be stored.

3: Login passwords can be saved.

When it comes to MS Word files, even if you save the completed document on an external USB drive, there can be an autosaved version stored locally on the PC.

Free For All Weekend: March 15

Wassup! Today – Mobile Development War Beginning

Now that Microsoft has announced a new online mobility store to compete with the Apple iTunes store. The war for the shrinking disposable income will begin. In the end, the battle will not only be between the different operating systems and hardware only. A good percentage of iPhone and iTouch users are not happy with how the iTunes store operate. This frustration also translates over to the software developers that must wait months for their newly completed title to be approved and made available for access on the iTunes store. Developers will soon have a non Apple store where titles can be made available for sale quickly and potentially with a greater return in profit. This is done via a third party installer called Cydia. Cydia will allow you to choose from a number of different download sites and even from sites that will be offerring commercial titles for purchase.

Digital Music Fridays: March 13

Wassup! Today – Satellite Radio vs www.theradio.com
I did a post awhile back HERE and the main PROS about THERADIO was that there are no commercials. Unfortunately this has changed in the past few weeks. About every 6 songs or so, a 30 second commercial is inserted on top of the channel identifier. It all started with an Esurance commercial. Not a huge discomfort since www.theradio.com is still free but with the introduction of commercials without prior notice, I have no idea if the service will still be free down the road or if the frequnecy of the commercials will increase over time. I hope the service does stay free for end user use and the level of commercials are kept at its current level.

Digital Imaging Thursdays: March 12

Wassup! Today – Photo Editing Using Photosphop
Almost all “point and shoot” cameras save the captured image in the jpeg format. This is a common format that all photo and imaging software can easily load and edit. Most people that use Photoshop or any photo editing software do not realize that a large portion of the original image quality is lost when the original image is edited under default settings. You can check this by loading an unedited image into photoshop. Once the image has loaded, go to Image/Image Size and look at the default image resolution. The default is 72 ppi (pixels per inch) for most images captured by a “point and shoot” camera. This is the typical resolution used by many camera manufacturers to minimize the file storage requirements for the captured image.

Will The Soon to be Released Palm Pre be The True Apple iPhone Killer?

Wassup! Today – Last week, Roger Mcnamee (an investor in the company Palm Inc.), made some bold public statements about the upcoming Palm Pre device.

Quote: Bloomberg.com

“You know the beautiful thing: June 29, 2009, is the two- year anniversary of the first shipment of the iPhone,” McNamee said today in an interview in San Francisco. “Not one of those people will still be using an iPhone a month later.”

Rusty Reviews For February 2009

Rating 3.00 out of 5

[?]Yes, as some of you may know, I moonlight for my own site, Rusty Sabre. It’s really just a portal with links to all the reviews I’ve written for different sites over the years, but I do post original reviews there as well. As it happens, February was both [...]

Eye-Fi Cards Effortlessly Deliver Their Video Clips to YouTube or Flickr

Rating 3.00 out of 5

[?]
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. — March 3, 2009 — Eye-Fi Inc., makers of the world’s first wireless memory card for digital cameras, today announced the release of two new wireless SD memory cards that will upload videos directly from a digital camera to a computer and the Web. Videos are growing in [...]

Wikipedia Now Goes Mobile

Wassup! Today – It is not like you have enough things to deal with on a daily basis but if you need information on the run, you can now go to http://wapedia.mobi/en/ or http://pda.wapedia.mobi/en to view the popular wikipedia pages now formatted for the mobile WAP browser screen.