Flip mino camcorder is perfect carry-along

The brand-new Flip mino camcorder from Pure Digital is my favorite, must-have-with-me camcorder.

I’ve tried every one of these units since they first came out three years ago and each version is better, smaller and more useful than the previous one. There’s now even one that does HD.

One of the latest versions, dubbed the mino for its diminutive size, came out just recently. On its first day, it was the top-selling camcorder on Amazon. That’s how popular these little gizmos have become and how loyal a user base they’ve garnered.

I did a very quick self-shot video with the new mino, showing some of its features. Here it is:

In size, the mino is smaller, lighter (3.3 ounces) and thinner than the previous Flip model, about as thick and tall as an iPhone but a bit narrower. The 1.5-inch color screen is a tad smaller than earlier models, a necessary trade-off for the reduced size of the new package.

Another change: The USB connector flips up from the top, rather than the side as on previous models, making it easier to insert into a computer. And instead of replaceable batteries, the mino has rechargeable batteries that charge directly from the computer, like an iPod. It takes about four hours to completely charge.

The new unit has kept the Flip’s so-simple-your-don’t-need-to-read-the-instructions operational controls, this time replacing the tactile buttons of earlier units with touch- sensitive controls on the back that light up when it’s turned on.

The unit loads software directly into the PC or Mac. You don’t need to run a separate CD or DVD. And the mino works really well with the Mac, something the previous models didn’t do. In fact, when I plugged the mino into my iMac, I was pleasantly surprised to see it opened iPhoto and allowed me to directly import the videos into that application. From there, Mac users can then bring them them into Final Cut Express or Pro or iMovie, if they want to do fancy editing.

But the built-in Flip software is pretty good. You can edit start and end points directly from it, string a bunch of clips into a movie, send and post directly to YouTube, MySpace and AOL Video or send a Flip vid as an e-mail attachment.

The 2GB of flash memory holds an hour’s worth of flash video, recorded in as many clips as you want. It lists for $179, but can be found cheaper online

The couch potato’s ultimate remote

It was a weekend of TV programming for me - setting up a new Logitech One Advanced Universal Remote that now controls every gizmo I have hooked to my new flatscreen TV and thus making the half dozen other remotes I had cluttering up the family room instantly obsolete.

Like a lot of consumers, I’ve been gearing up for the coming digital transition in February. Because I cover tech, I convinced my wife we needed a new TV. So, from Costco, I carted off a 46 inch Samsung HDTV. There are so many new technologies surrounding this advance in TV that, well, how could I expect to stay on top of it if I was sill using an old analog set?

Whatever, the argument worked for me. I got the new TV. Good luck on finding your own excuse.

But I also picked up the new remote and it’s power and versatility has been a pleasing surprise, albeit an expensive one: $199 from Amazon online, $249 from the local Best Buy.

But universal is indeed an accurate description of what it does. It truly replaces all those other controllers, from the Comcast cable remote, to my DVD remote, to the VCR remote and even allowing me to hook up my my computer or access my home wireless network and display pictures and videos from the hard drive of my laptop or desktop on the new TV. Read more

BlackBerry Storm takes on the iPhone

The BlackBerry Storm looks like the strongest rival to the iPhone and is sure to make this fall’s smartphone race the most intense yet.

Designed to satisfy the needs of both consumers and business customers, the BlackBerry Storm smartphone combines the powerful communications features, global connectivity and personal productivity advantages of the BlackBerry platform with a revolutionary touch-screen technology that dramatically enhances the touch interface and enables easy and precise typing. The world’s first “clickable” touch-screen responds much like a physical keyboard and also supports single-touch, multi-touch and gestures for intuitive and efficient application navigation. Read more

The all-in-one HP Photosmart C6380 printer

The new HP Photosmart C6380 has set a new standard in price, convenience and quality.

It lists for $246 but can be found online for as little as $159, making it one of the best priced all-in-one copier, photo printer, scanner and printer I’ve yet to try. It prints 4 x 6 photos in lab quality in as little as 18 seconds and for spits out crisp near laser-like quality black print at up to 33 pages a minute in draft mode. Color mode is almost as fast, at 31 ppm.

But what has won me is the ease by which it can be wirelessly networked to a home Wi-Fi system. I hooked it up yesterday and, by simply loading the software, had two desktops and two notebook computers connected to it in no time. I can print from any computer anywhere in my house or even on the back deck, using my Wi-Fi network.

The printer, on a desk in my home office, takes up a small footprint and has just one wire coming but the back - the AC cord.

The ability to easily share it among all the computers in my house - Windows and Macs - is a huge plus for me.

Like other recent HP models, it uses HP’s proprietary Vivera ink, which dries quickly, is virtually smudge-proof and delivers very realistic photo colors. HP claims its Vivera ink reduces print head clogging because it is exceptionally pure. And it touts that purity, along with special “protectants” mixed in, for helping photos, documents and graphics resist fading “for decades.”

I sample printed e-mail, a couple of Word documents and several 4 x 6 photos from all of my computers and it performed flawlessly. The 4 x 6 photos were of better quality than an older model Canon mini260 standalone printer I’ve been using for the past couple of years.

You can also print directly from memory cards or your camera. On the front of the printer are a series of slots for all of the major storage media used by digital cameras - Memory Stick, Multimedia Cards (MMC) Secure Digital (SD) SD Mini and CompactFlash (CF). There’s also a USB port for digital cameras that use the PictBridge feature.

The printer even has its own red-eye reduction button.

The printer comes with the five individual ink cartridges, which HP says last about 300 pages each. New cartridges cost $9.99. Since some of the colored inks last longer than the black, HP bundles a little widget that displays on your computer menu bar you how much life you have in the various inks.

But, if you need five of them, that’s $50.

It’s selling replacement ink, of course. This is how printer manufacturers make their real money. But from what I’ve seen so far with the HP Photosmart C6380, I’m thinking the quality of the printer will lessen the sting of the ink replacement.

Laptop Desk Stand makes working from home comfortable

Tired of using your laptop on your… well, lap? We have a great solution for you. See, the laptop computer is such a blessing because it lets people use the same computer to work from home or when on the go. But at home where you may not have a desk, it can be cumbersome.

There has to be a better way to use your laptop than sitting it on the coffee table, or having to sit at the kitchen table.

Luckily there is the Adjustable and Ergonomic Laptop Stand is something we’ve found that is perfect for the home or office. It comes with some really convenient features.

The laptop desk stand is fully adjustable with working distances between 30-37 inches high. There is a convenient side panel that is perfect for the mouse or notes. The laptop stand is made to fit all laptop sizes, it is easy to assemble, and it has four legs with wheels for extra stability.

The laptop desk is really comfortable. Most people use their laptops at home in positions that are very bad for the back and posture. When you use the laptop desk stand, you can pull it right up to any chair or even the sofa. You will find it far better than using your laptop on your lap, coffee table, or tv dinner stand.

The ergonomic design of the laptop desk stand allows you to work comfortably for hours and the size and weight make it easy to move from room to room if needed. If spend a lot of time on your laptop at home or the office than the laptop desk stand is right for you.

It lists for about $150 but we got it here for $79. Best accessory I’ve yet to find for my laptop.

Here’s a YouTube video of it in action.

Zune offers new “buy from FM” feature

Starting next week, every Zune portable media player will let consumers wirelessly download or stream millions of songs on the go from thousands of wireless hot spots around the country.

Free, powerful software and firmware updates will give Zune owners the ability to discover, tag and purchase songs directly from the built-in FM radio, wirelessly access the Zune Marketplace store on the go, and tap into interactive, personalized music recommendations that add even more value to the Zune Pass subscription.

Zune is also expanding its device lineup with new 16GB and 120GB capacities as well as shiny new blue-on-silver and sleek all-black color schemes. The new features will begin rolling out on Sept. 16, 2008.

“Digital music services really come alive when they help people find not only the music they know they like, but the music they didn’t know they would love,” said Chris Stephenson, general manager of Global Marketing for Zune at Microsoft. “With the combination of subscription, wireless access to millions of tracks, and powerful discovery features like personal recommendations and the ability to buy music from FM radio, Zune is taking the digital music experience to the next level.”

Wireless Connections

More than 61 percent of people say they discover new music by listening to the radio.1 With that in mind, Zune is taking advantage of the wireless connection and the built-in FM tuner to deliver a new feature called Buy from FM, which lets customers tag and purchase songs they hear on FM radio stations2 directly from the Zune device. When the customer is in a Wi-Fi hot spot, the song can be immediately downloaded to the Zune device. If Wi-Fi is not available, the device will have a queue of songs ready to download when connected to a home computer or in a hot spot. Buy from FM uses Radio Data System and RT+ data feeds within the FM broadcast frequencies that identify song and artist data and enable the Zune service to identify and deliver the track to the customer.

“Microsoft’s decision to integrate an FM tuner into the Zune was revolutionary and they continue their extraordinary leadership with Buy From FM,” said John Hogan, president and CEO of Clear Channel Radio. “We’ve always known that radio is the primary source for discovering new music, and Microsoft’s decision to marry music discovery and delivery does two things: enables consumers to instantly satisfy their passion and enables FM song tagging to be enjoyed by all radio listeners, everywhere.”

In addition, users can now access the Zune Marketplace music store directly from their device when they are in a recognized Wi-Fi hot spot, or through a home wireless network. To make it easy to discover music on the go, customers can browse lists of featured new releases and top songs and albums sorted by genre, or use the on-screen keypad to type in the song of their choice. Once they have picked a track or album, they can either download it or stream it directly to the Zune device.

Zune customers have a choice in how they acquire music: They can pay per track or choose a Zune Pass subscription. Zune Pass subscribers can download or stream music to the device or their computer interchangeably, all for a flat rate of $14.99 per month. So whether a device has 4 GB or 120 GB of storage, Zune Pass customers can access and stream millions of songs directly to their Zune.

More Ways to Discover Music: Channels and Picks

The new Zune software update taps expert sources, recommendations from the Zune service and online music community, and the user’s own play data to create a dynamic, digital music experience where discovering music is easy and seamless.

· Channels. Channels are an exciting new tool for music discovery. Customers can explore channels programmed by experts from the music industry such as the Billboard Top 100, The FADER magazine and KEXP radio, in addition to workout-themed channels tailored for high, medium and low impact, and top chart channels from all genres and subgenres. The powerful Zune software will even create custom channels for each user, based on favorite artists and genres. Channels are included with a monthly Zune Pass subscription and can be synced to the device for playback on the go. For non-Zune Pass subscribers, the Channels are available for a la carte purchase.
· Personal Picks. Now the Zune software learns what kind of music users like and makes personal recommendations. When users log onto Zune Marketplace, they’ll find a new area called Picks where the Zune recommendation algorithm will suggest artists, albums and tracks based on the music they have been listening to, as well as channels they might like and listeners like them in the Zune Social.
· The Zune Social online music community. Customers can connect with millions of like-minded fans and share music via the Zune Card, a real-time playlist of each user’s favorite and recently played tracks that can be accessed on the Web or within the Zune software, or synced to the Zune device. Zune Pass subscribers can play full tracks from Zune Cards synced to their device while on the go, and now the playlists will even automatically update with the most recently played tracks when Zune connects to a wireless hot spot. It’s like subscribing to a free feed of music from the sources people trust most — their friends.
Powerful Software

The Zune PC software is a free download at http://www.zune.net that provides rich discovery and media management capabilities to help consumers make the most of their existing music collections, in addition to providing access to the Zune Social and Zune Marketplace so they can add to it.

· Mixview. Customers can select an artist, album or Zune Card to activate a dynamic, visual mosaic of related music and listeners. With each click users can take the view in a new direction, creating a fun, graphical way to discover new music. Mixview works with users’ current collection of music, in addition to tracks and albums from across the Zune Marketplace.
· Now Playing. The improved Now Playing view is more interactive and cinematic. Users can sit back and enjoy the combination of great artist imagery, colorful effects, bio information and data from the Zune online music community, all combined in a full-screen view. They can also click to dive deeper into the music behind the picture, providing another great way to interact with their collection.
A new firmware update will also improve the experience on the Zune device. In addition to the new wireless functionality, Zune will bring new features customers have been asking for:

· Games on the go. Two free games, “Hexic” and “Texas Hold ’Em,” will keep users entertained on the go.
· Audiobooks. All Zune devices will feature support for audiobooks this fall from industry leaders in the digital distribution of audiobook content.
– Audible. Customers can visit audible.com to download and sync favorite books from the 50,000 titles available from over 600 publishers and content providers.
– OverDrive. They can download content from sites powered by overdrive.com, including 7,500 libraries’ Web sites worldwide. (http://search.overdrive.com)
Device Pricing Information Effective Sept. 16
120 GB: $249.99
80 GB: $229.993
16 GB: $199.00
8 GB: $149.99
4 GB: $129.993

New Targus bags speed through airport security

Targus is relieving some of that pain with its new Zip-Thru Corporate Traveler Laptop Case, which will eliminate the hassle of having to remove your laptop from your laptop case when passing through airport security. Read more

Review: Sprint’s Samsung Instinct

Sprint has launched a full-frontal assault on Apple with the release of the Samsung Instinct, a touch-screen phone that offers pretty much all the iPhone has. It’s also cheaper, but in a cumbersome and, ultimately, negligible way.

Sprint is clearly targeting price. The Samsung Instinct sells for $129 on a two-year contract, compared to an entry-level new iPhone that will cost $199 for a similar two-year contract with AT&T. Sounds good, right? But dig deeper and you’ll see it’s a bunch of marketing mumbo jumbo that gives you a $100 rebate after you pay $229 up front or $30 more than the cheapest iPhone.

Over two years, that’s a price difference of $15 a year. A little over a buck a month. Hardly enough to get excited about.

I wouldn’t buy the Instinct on price alone. After testing one a few days, I think, in the long term that Sprint may be shooting itself in the foot by emphasizing price so much. After a day of testing the unit, I think the Samsung Instinct really challenges the iPhone on features. It looks pretty much the same, works the same and has several new services and features that really stand out.

Among them is Voice Search. Looking for a Starbucks? Push a button, say “search” and then, at the prompt, ask for “coffee shops.” You’ll get a quick return of all the shops that the Instinct’s built-in GPS capabilities note that are near you. Punch one of the listings and you’ll get turn-by-turn voice and onscreen directions. How’s that for cool?

That same Speech to Action button provide many other functions using speech activation for calling, texting, picture messaging, traffic, movie, sports, news and weather information. If you really crave noise or have a short attention span, it has multitasking capabilities that allow the user to play music in background mode while surfing the Internet, texting or playing games.

I’m also impressed with Sprints’ video offerings of sports, news and entertainment clips. And the Instinct uses haptic technology, giving you a little force feedback vibration every time you punch a button.

The Instinct runs on Sprint’s EV-DO Rev A high-speed network, similar to Verizon’s BroadbandAccess network. The new iPhone (to be released July 11) will run on AT&T’s 3G network, also delivering near broadband speeds.

In the box with the Instinct is a 2GB microSD card that can hold approximately 2,000 songs you can download from the Sprint Music Store, two standard batteries that offer up to 5.75 hours of continuous talk time each, battery-charging sleeve, travel charger, USB cable, 3.5mm headphones with built-in microphone, and a carry case with stylus. The Instinct, besides clearly copying the look and heft of the iPhone, also mimicks the iPhone’s Visual Voicemail, which lets you look and listen to your voicemail messages in whatever order you want. And it comes with a 2 megapixel still and video camera, Bluetooth and support for corporate and consumer (POP3 and IMAP) email.

Access fees and voice and data plans are pretty flexible and competitive with AT&T and Verizon. They’re also a bit complicated.

Like the iPhone, the Instinct must be activated on a pricing plan offering unlimited data. Customers can choose from what Sprint calls Everything Plans for individuals starting at just $69.99 per month for 450 voice minutes or Talk/Message/Data Share plans for families starting at $129.99 per month for 1500 voice minutes to share between two lines. There’s also the Simply Everything Plan offering both unlimited nationwide voice and data services for just $99.99 per month. The Simply Everything Plan offers premium services, including GPS navigation, email, Web surfing, Sprint Music Premier and Sprint TV Premier, while letting customers easily budget for phone expenses.

Of all the smartphones I’ve tested this year… and it seems like a new one comes out each week… the Instinct is the most impressive iPhone alternative I’ve seen. It’s not an iPhone killer. But it’s a strong competitor.

More details can be found at www.instinctthephone.com

High Tech RFID monitoring at Olympics

The Beijing Olympics are less than a month away and you can imagine how feverish the pitch is getting with last minute preparations for opening day. One of the many technologies being used behind the scenes to help make the Olympics an incredible experience for attendees, athletes and Beijing residents is RFID (Radio Frequency Identification). For the first time at an Olympic event, RFID is being used to ensure ticket authenticity and fraud prevention, food safety and even to improve air quality in and around Beijing.

Dan Mullen, president of AIM Global, the worldwide industry association and advocate for automatic identification and mobility technologies, including RFID, says RFID is being employed for Read more

My favorite new apps for the Phone

From last week’s PCMike NBC-TV report (see video over on the right)… The iPhone is cool. The apps are cooler.

The apps, short for applications, are programs that Apple released for the iPhone on July 11. All of the programs work on both the new iPhone 3G and the older iPhones. But since many of those programs also use the Web for various functions, it is with a 3G connection that they shine the most.

There are now more than 2,000 iPhone programs available on Apple’s new App Store, many of them free, a great many others between $2.99 and $4.99.

Let me share my favs. Read more

Video search with Yidio

With You Tube, Blip, Hulu and scores of other online video sites, just keeping track of what’s there has no easy challenge. Well, it’s now easier, thanks to a new search engine that specializes in finding TV clips, movies and videos of all types.

It’s called Yidio and it’s all about video, keeping track - it claims - of 200 million different videos from all over the world. You just type in a phrase and -if it’s online, you’ll get a list of different videos, all clickable to play. Read more

Four phones that rival the iPhone

Remember all the hype over the iPhone last year at this time? Get ready for it again as Apple releases iPhone 2.0, a whole new model that works even faster on July 11 and, next Tuesday, a bunch of new programs for the current model. But this year Apple has some serious new contenders.

When you;re talking touch screen, check out the Samsung Instinct. It works on the Sprint network and offers all the iPhone has and then some, at a cheaper price, just $129. Voice-to-speech commands, GPS navigation, streaming TV and video, music and full e-mail and messaging capabilities.

Verizon has three cool phones to look at. The Samsung Glyde has an iPhone like touch screen, but a full QWERTY keyboard. It’s a bit tricky for one hand operation but the real keyboard will be appreciated by many. Cost? $299.

Next, consider the LG Decoy. Again, nice screen. Plays music and multimedia. But what’s really cool is a built in Bluetooth headset that docks right in the phone. $179.

But the top of the Verizon lineup is the all new LG Dare. It has big three-inch touch screen, offers a sort of visual speed dial and plays all media. But what really sets it apart is a 3.2-megapixel camera and high-quality video recording capabilities. It costs $199.

The phone’s camera has a Schneider-Kreuznach certified lens for outstanding image quality, and the camera offers advanced features, such as face detection and an LED flash so customers can take enhanced-quality photos from their mobile phones. Additionally, customers can use the photo editing tool to personalize their digital photos with features that include borders and landscapes, and they can draw on their pictures directly on the screen using their fingertips.

The touch-screen also supports handwriting recognition and tactile feedback so that customers can more easily select their options on the phone.

iPhone: You’ve got some competition.

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