iPhone I Love your new Stylus

Gossip and fuss, so much publicity and unending rumours around probably the most anticipated hi-tech gadget the last few years and finally costumers managed to lay their hands upon the touch screen technological miracle for an iPhone from our favourite Apple.

The issue we will cover today is a simple one, emerged by Apple’s persistence upon style rather than practicality. iPhone’s touch screen interface might be the most sophisticated and accurate I have ever used but still Apple refused to release any sort of stylus device (a small pen shaped tool for allowing easier use of the touch screen technology) claiming that the interface combined with the size of the screen allowed sufficient precision and mobility using only your fingers. The use of a stylus would probably affect the stylish and user friendly phone and definitely the advertisements wouldn’t look so cool.

Nevertheless, out there in this world there are a few individuals with chunkier, bigger fingers who love technology despite of their anatomic differences to nowadays slim geeks. Pogo is a company who is totally beyond racism and is trying to unite all hi-tech well built funs and slim geeks under their loving arms. Their latest product which is a soft tipped stylus and the product pack includes a discreet clip to keep the stylus handy at all times. It is specifically designed to be compatible with Apple’s iPod touch and iPhone offering easier selection of on-screen items that can be used without harming your favourite “toys” as it is made from soft materials.

So, if you are experiencing problems with screen touching Pogo stylus could be your solution, or maybe its is a bunch of worthless crap?

Adidas and Samsung miCoach

We saw yesterday how Nike + iPod revolutionized gym entertainment technology by actually creating a brand new market difficult to be disregarded by competitors. So, its was time for Adidas and Samsung to team up and claim their market share by announcing the release of miCoach, a new system aiming to assist people who work out by providing feedback, data and monitoring their heart rate, very much alike Nike + iPod. The release of miCoach obviously puts the rival companies head to head.

The entire system includes the Samsung miCoach phone, heart rate monitor, Adidas apparel, the stride sensor for Adidas running shoes, as well accessibility to the miCoach interface. Adidas and Samsung advertise the new system as having your own personal trainer with you constantly when training.

The actual Samsung miCoach phone is a Samsung quad-band slide phone with a very handy music-listening and data storage set up. Even the phone itself is very impressive with features that include a 2-megapixel camera, 1GB MP3 player, microSD card slot, Bluetooth 2.0, and quad-band connectivity. Unfortunately, there is a compatibility issue here as users cannot take advantage of this software on any other Samsung phones and Samsung has announced no plans or intention to deal with that in the near future. Still, it’s an interesting fitness tool with good potential so any of you gym looking to invest a few pounds and get your hands on it, get ready its being released in April.

Nike+iPod go Cardio

Nike and Apple teamed up a couple of years ago in order to produce the Nike+iPod Sports Kit targeting the outdoor sports funs who enjoy few hi-tech gym gadgets. The integrated technology combines standard iPod Nano functions with an accelerometer attached to or embedded in a Nike shoe, providing and recording distance information, pace, workout history and calories burned.

After a couple of years, Nike and Apple needed to freshen up, so they teamed up with major gym equipment makers Life Fitness, Precor, Star Trac, and Technogym, to make cardio equipment Nike + iPod friendly and they are moving fast. The cardio equipment, like treadmills, bikes, rowing machines, will allow the uploading all of workouts to http://www.nikeplus.nike.com/ being the software database used to access and manage all the "sweaty" information you gathered.

“The Nike + iPod experience revolutionized running. Now we’re revolutionizing the gym cardio experience,” said Trevor Edwards, Vice President of Global Brand and Category Management for Nike. “We’re enabling people who go to the gym an opportunity to set goals, track progress, and compete in challenges with their friends and with other members of Nike+. It’s a groundbreaking tool for people who want to maximize their workouts.”

The data upload to the Nike’s website will be derived from the work out reports, the actual reports from the machines as users will be able to attach their iPod Nano directly to many machines, using the same tracking offered by the standard Nike + iPod set-up.

Toshiba Profit Loss Crowns Sony Blu-ray Winner

On an earlier post we went deep into the Blu-ray vs. HD DVD format war which saw the Japanese colossus Sony making a great marketing and technological comeback. Sony won the rematch on the high definition format ring.

Toshiba, initially backing up HD DVD technology players, admitted their defeat by Sony-backed rival Blu-ray in February. The Final blows where given after Warner Bros complied with fellow companies like Sony Pictures, Walt Disney and Twentieth Century Fox opted for Blu-ray as their movie standard since the beginning of the "battle".

Toshiba announce the discontinuation of HD DVD technology, a move which will bring a bitter financial impact on the company's bottom line. The cost will climb up to $666m (£330m) and obviously affect its 2007 profits. Unfortunately, the falling price of flash memory chips will hurt further the Japanese giant, whose next move is very much anticipated globally.

Microsoft Trackball Anatomic mouse

If the experience of painful hand cramps after a hard day’s job on your work PC has become an every day necessary evil, then you are unaware of the Trackball devices. Trackball devices have become a must have, can’t leave without favourites for those suffering hand cramps caused by conventional mouse use.

Microsoft, being a company despising to be left behind in new technology, has long now released two new right-hand trackballs, Microsoft Trackball Optical for $45, Microsoft Trackball Explorer $75. The devices rely on optical tracking technology of course, lacking internal moving parts and equipped with an optical sensor taking "snapshots" of the trackball at 2000 images per second provide users with accurate cursor control. The device actually remains stationary on your work station and you “work out” only your fingers.

Trackball Explorer and the Trackball Optical are differentiated from each other on the placement of the trackball itself and where the customizable buttons are positioned. Personally, I failed to see how the device’s logistics affect the bottom price.

The Trackball Optical has the ball on the left side for the thumb to operate, leaving the scroll wheel and left and right buttons in a more conventional location on top for easier clicking. Two customizable subordinate buttons are also located on top, but since they will call for your pinkie’s maneuvers you will need time to adapt to it.

The Trackball Explorer's large red ball sits on top of device, with the wheel and the left and right buttons situated where your thumb naturally rests. The two customizable buttons – is this some kind of trademark – are on the right of the trackball and rely again on your pinkie and ring fingers for operation.

Both trackballs are good devices differing only in comfort options, coming down to the individual user, which is right for him. Do give them a try before you choose one, though personally I thought Explorer is unjustifiably overpriced. The Optical offers better value, as there are basically the same.

Full Spectrum Light-Reading in Daylight

We have all heard someone saying “you will strain your eyes reading”. This could actually be true under specific circumstances. People bigger amounts of light for sufficient reading as they grow older. That’s why some of you may remember your mother yelling to you about reading in the dark. Back then it wasn’t back for you. Tests actually show that a 60 year old person needs twice the amount of light he did when he or she was 30.

When reading, is beneficial for your sight to follow a few rules, which will prove to be a treasure as years go by. It is important not to over shadow your reading material so position your source of light properly, so place it behind you and ideally your left shoulder if you are right handed and the other way round.

To avoid fatiguing glare make sure no light is reflected from the reading pages into your eyes. Also, you can try to combine general light with a more direct source. Obviously, the last advice should be applied when the light is not annoying someone else, maybe a second person in bed. This combination will protect your eyes from straining trying to adjust from darkness to light.

The best light for reading is the full spectrum light, which is designed to resemble daylight and provides the perfect contrast for reading with higher definition color matching. This technology achieves the day light imitation by providing the "full" or "natural" light spectrum to your eye. Typical light bulbs produce light only from the "warmer" red, yellow and orange parts of the visual spectrum, completely lacking the "cooler" blues. I would recommend it, it actually makes a great difference when reading and it creates a “cleaner”, crispier atmosphere in the room.

My Vibrating Mouse-Logitech

The need for easier, more precise and anatomic mouse technology has been troubling manufacturers who find it difficult to innovate further after the optical mouse release. Few of the major producers though, have actually interesting and practical solutions to suggest.

Lets take Logitech today for example. The company suggests the $40 IFeel Mouse, just $10 more expensive than a standard mouse, and the $60 IFeel MouseMan which can be found at http://www.logitech.com. I agree they do look a bit conventional, detaining myself from saying cheap. However, the new technology they offer might come in handy to devoted Internet surfers. The mouse actually vibrates in your palm giving you a physical signal when your cursor moves over icons, menus, hyperlinks, and bookmarks.

As though unneseccary as it may sounds, its functionality is better displayed on busy Internet pages, clutered with advertisments and survey requests where pointing exactly to the place you want to click becomes complicated. On tests on a variety of Web sites and busy Windows desktops the IFeel Mouse range actually aids users with their... clicking. Unfortunately, the IFeel software necessary to load the drivers may be incompatible with many touchpad devices on some notebooks. If Logitech works a bit on the looks and software compatability I can see vibrating mice on our desks from now on.

Office Feng-Shui

Feng Shui, the ancient Chinese art of harmonizing Heaven and Earth in order to improve ones Qi. The actually meaning of the words 'feng shui' is "wind-water".Qi rides the wind and scatters, but is retained when encountering water.

Nowadays the practice and teaching of feng-shui is focusing mainly on placing objects and furniture in an environment to achieve energy flow and harmony. Applications in choosing a place to live, burial site, or agriculture are not for a joke, though a tiny bit farfetched. Advocates claim feng-shui affect health, wealth and personal relationships while critics consider it a pseudoscience.

If you belong to the later group you confuse me why you keep on reading these lines, but if you are or want to become a believer I have a few easy and interesting tips on how to create a balanced working environment which if you believe it strongly enough you may actually lay your hands on the promotion you so eagerly trying to get.

So lets get busy. Start by obtaining a clear view of the office entrance creating a sense of security and enabling concentration. A clear view of the door will also help you spot career opportunities that you'd otherwise miss. Now, if that appears to be problematic there are ways to deal with it like mirrors reflecting the entrance or pictures of roads and rivers but in practise they sound ridiculous. Just try not to face a wall, as it could result in a dead-end job and you will be allright.
Avoid piling up things on the floor, they will keep you stuck in the past and will make meeting targets and deadlines or finishing projects more difficult. Clutter will bring dangerous disruption to the Qi flow so be ware!!! Keep it tidy, store regularly used supplies in your reach and short your papers out frequently getting rid of unnecessary staff.

Get started with the above and when you hit that promotion I will update you further in order to "nick" your Managing Director's position. Down the bottom though, don't those tips sound a bit like your mother's advice on how to keep your room tidy?

Robotic Mobile Talking

You are thinking of giving her a call but you aren’t sure, you don’t know what to do so you just fiddling with your mobile phone. A digital wink and an electronic voice saying “g o – o n – g i v e – h e r – a – c a l l” talks you in to it. Nonsense? Nope, not really. It is well known Japanese mobile technology has pioneered mobile phone functions non of us could imagine when using their Ericsson 768 few years ago. It is also common ground them being the undisputed leaders in robotic technology. I know I have started making sense gradually. Just imagine the two technology sectors “married up” and their offspring would like this obscure robomob in slick silver or shinny black.

Next mont Softbank Mobile Corp Japan, will release the Phonebraver a brand new mobile technology with robotic technical characteristics and even features. The phone – yes it is still a phone – can’t move, at least not yet but it shows off its learning abilities by responding to the user’s repeated actions. Producing default sound messages the development of a simple conversation will actually be possible. The device's level of communication capability hasn't yet been decided and neither is the price. Just be patient for a month..

BlackBerry Use or Corporate Addiction

You are in your department’s meeting, fully aware of everything happening around you, from unnoticeable nods from your colleagues, smirks or even sweat drops. You are alert and ready to answer, contribute, and learn. Yet you always have time to take a pick on you faithful companion for new mail notification. Not this time? Well give it a minute and check again.

Blackberries have become so much of a habit that for a few out there its use has developed to compulsion. In some occasions users need psychological treatment similar for drug addiction, in order to control the use and maintain it within “normal boundaries”. Studies in Rutgers University, New Jersey explained how and why Blackberry overuse leads to a new short of corporate addiction. Unfortunate individuals hooked up on emailing and Internet browsing fail to ignore their inbox for more than a few minutes. The fast paced working environments many of us are used to work in produce "a level of mental and physical stimulation" signifying a potential addiction.

It may sound irrational, but how is checking your e-mail inbox at 3.30am you woke up to use the toilet very quickly sound to you? Or ignoring those around you in social gatherings, isolating yourself from conversations and finally becoming a weirdo who sometimes talks to himself?

Several suggestions can be made to the blackberry addicts, but lets face it, it all comes down to rational use of a device supposed to save you time and certainly not take over your life. If by reading the above you feel you might fit the blackberry addiction standards, give yourself a simple test. Switch it off, lets say at 22.00 tonight and switch it back on when you leave your house next morning. Sounds dreadful?

HD DVD vs. Blu-Ray – Sony triumph over rematch

Many say history, like life, goes in circles. Overstated as it may sound in the hi-tech arena this is undisputedly valid. Back in the 70’s western world witnessed the videotape format war, a civil Japanese “cold war” era of agonizing competition over dominance in the videocassette recorder (VCR) market. On the red corner, Sony’s new home entertainment success Betamax, challenged by its rival on the blue corner, the very much promising, JVC’s representative, VHS. A new chapter of technological competition in the marketing history.

3 decades later Sony is in the ring again with the 25GB capacity Blu-ray disks, against the lighter 15GB capacity HD DVD discs backed up by Toshiba. Sony was counting to win the odds mainly upon capacity while cost – they are coming short in value for money – has been utterly forsaken. Strangely though, despite other advantages for each of the two new formats, the companies backing them up have been unable to decide upon a single standard.

But where manufacturers and consumers failed to compromise on either technologies, retailers decided to take action… and there is one retailer, with the power to call the winner. Wal-Mart, the U.S. $350 billion retailer, announced more than a year ago the shelving only of HD DVD type recorders. Sony received a major blow under the belt dreading history, like life, does go in circles. Justification in Wal-mart’s strategy lied upon acknoledgment of the movie market and the downloading reality. Since Wal-Mart has launched its own movie download service, selling recording equipment served simply as a mean to generate in store traffic, making more sence to promote the cheap HD DVD .

Nevertheless, consumers favoured performance over cheap cost. Sony empowered their position in the market with aggressive marketing supported by big technological improvement blows and finally won the rematch. Toshiba is announcing them dropping the HD DVD technology and Wal-Mart announced on Friday they exclusive support on Blu-ray. Personally, I am thrilled quality thrived over quantity; I am just curious what’s going to be the next battle after 3 decade… hard to imagine, isn’t it?

From now on... office love is "banned"

While love is in the air the Valentine's Day, that love would be better not polluting the office air for a third of US companies.

It may sound weird but 1/3 of US companies apply policies against office romances, although 38 percent of employees working in office positions claim to have met their better half at work. Normally, that 38% were not all come from those companies that ''ban'' office romances, but the survey revealed that 4 out of 10 people say they simply ignore their company's ''love ban''.

You can understand how things can end up if an office romance goes bad. But even if it does not go bad, many of those romances can make things complicated for many more than just the 2 ''lovers'' involved.

However, I cannot see how companies can ban romance in the working environment. Day-to-day practice has shown that when people get banned from doing something considered as ''bad'', they feel more forced to do it. Therefore, all that this policy will do is force workers to try and hide it more.

Besides, it is said that a good employee is a happy employee, right? But what does make an employee happier than love?