What is an IP phone exactly?

IP phones are very common nowadays in office environments. What are they really though?

An IP phone merely uses voice over IP technology identical to the very well-known Skype software. The technology enables the end user to forward calls over the internet rather than the usual public switched telephone network (PSTN). The phone devices implement protocoles like Session Initiation and Skinny Client for which further information are either completely useless for the end user or too complicated to understand, so I will move on.

So, lets just say very simply that IP phones are phone devices – and not telephones – with additional features facilitated by installed software. Those extra features may very well include from the standard caller id recognition, call history similar mobile phone's, corporate directories for quick access to numbers and numerous other application depending from the model and your companies agreement.

Although you might end up using all the additional gizmos on your phone very rarely, the conference and multiparty call options regularly prove handy while holding and transferring the odd sales call to your “beloved” colleague has been considerably simplified.

The principal motivation for every sizeable company to adopt an IP phone system is, of course, the usual suspect cost. It is simple really. As your voice is transmitted over IP, the charge associated with implementing the technology is directly related with the prearranged and fixed cost for internet bandwidth.

So, all you cold callers out there, don’t believe the billing your manager flashes every week next to your spins number. He is so full of rubbish!

Space saver, mind blower, Virtual Keyboard

Just imagine an empty desk with a screen, a wireless mouse and pretty lights projected onto your desk. That is what your desk will look like if you have the Zippo sized Virtual Laser Keyboard, a device that projects a keyboard onto any flat surface and uses optical movement recognition technology to pick out what letters you are typing.

If you are constantly using you iPhone or Blackberry on the go, if your desk space is limited, or if you just like as few things as is possible on your desk, then this little gadget will work ideally for you. I purchased one as a gift for a friend last year, mostly for the novelty value, but checked with him recently and found out that he still uses it regularly with his Tablet PC. Apparently, apart from impressing everyone in the office with the pretty lights it works without a hitch.

But what attracts me the most, as I write this on a keyboard used by other people, is the cleanliness factor. Who knows what people touch before they check their emails on your laptop really quickly, and who wants to imagine for that matter. For all you clean freaks out there, this is one way to clean your keyboard without risk of short circuiting everything.

Plug it in, start using it, change your settings and parameters to suit your typing style and you’re off!

A relaxed way to work out in the office

Your one hour lunch break, if you are lucky enough to take a full hour for your lunch break, is not always enough for you to snack and do a little working out. And if you are one of us, working in an office all day, mouse in hand, you will be needing some relief for your aching wrist or cramping hand.

This is where the Powerball comes in. Powerball suppliers call the device a “a dynamic hand powered gyroscope”, in plain English a ball inside a ball that spins really fast if you twist your wrist. You hold the ball and rotate your wrist to increase the speed at which the internal ball spins. Within a few seconds this simple movement starts to exert a surprising amount of force on your entire arm, giving you a full arm workout. No need to change into shorts and rush off to the gym. When your wrist starts tingling after sending off emails all day just lean back for a minute or two and give the Powerball a go.

Furthermore, it improves your grip, helping in a whole range of sports and outdoor activities, from rock climbing to badminton and has been recommended by chiropractors as a good tool for the rehabilitation of various arm injuries that can be suffered in the office, such as carpal tunnel.

Apparently, these little gadgets cause quite the competition around the office during breaks, as they record the highest rpms (up to 15000!) and display them as a kind of high score. Just a little pointer: You might want to let the boss win.

Features

• Generates 40 lbs of force
• Built in speedometer
• Six program functions
• Internal window displays and records your achieved RPM
• Auto power shut-off
• Batteries included*
• Achieves speeds of up to 15,000 RPM
• Glows neon blue when spinning
• Great for sports training
• Improve your grip for when you're next hanging from a cliff edge in cool shades with a smug smile on your face. Or of course for tennis, golf, squash, archery, fencing, etc
• Size: 7.5cm x 6.5cm

*Requires x 2 Watch style Batteries in the speedometer

Adobe Acrobat Connect Pro for Web Conferencing

Amongst the crowd of software companies forcing with obscure ways their users to purchase their software products, one exists which actually addresses kindly specific market needs with pioneering solutions.

Adobe attracted a lot of attention with the release of Adobe Acrobat Connect Pro targeting the declining market of business events, conferences, forums, summits and symposiums with a simple, user-friendly web solution promoting communication security and cost efficiency.

The Acrobat Connect Pro incorporates two already well-established software; the Adobe Acrobat and Macromedia Connect. The technology utilized in the Macromedia Connect was acquired by Adobe a couple of years ago, along with the whole company, in a strategic acquisition which brought Adobe a step higher on the global software ranking, currently holding solid ground on position 5.

Adobe Acrobat Connect Pro is a supreme software solution setting an outstanding benchmark in web conferencing and eLearning.

Logitech VX Revolution Cordless Laser Mouse

The Logitech VX Revolution Cordless Laser mouse for notebooks is a superior companion for full on laptop users, combining the best desktop mice features while it is small and glossy, even if it fits in a tiny wireless receiver. Going beyond its impressive design, you sense the design's ergonomic qualities like the soft-touch rubber grips. It is a bit disappointing it is only available in a right-hand version.

VX Revolution introduces exciting new features with an actual purpose, in a very shy in terms of innovations market, thus it isn’t the cheaper option in the market. If you are a believer of paying a bit more for investing on a best-of-class product, the VX Revolution Cordless Laser Mouse will not disappoint. The whole concept follows a rather minimal but functional approach, making the “nearly frictionless” scroll wheels its star feature.

The Zoom button and a couple of other fancy functions didn’t affect VX Revolution in terms of size or weight. The 4.2 ounces (130 grams) mouse is marginally bigger than its laptop cousins but it is definitely prettier and still smaller than the desktop ones.

VX Revolution might come across as “racist” to left-hands users but it sticks with social trends like “going green” thus, its receiver switches off when not used to save power. Plus, it is so comfortable and technologically advanced that you get used to its features instantly and most probably it will be a challenge not to use it as your primary mouse; either using a desktop or a laptop.

Mobile Phones - The new health threat

Today’s post might not be a pleasant one, yet it is as serious as cancer is. Throughout history humanity seems to have been striving to survive various threats. Romans were dying from their lead-made cutlery, then it was plague’s turn to take its toll upon humanity, the yellow fever, the atomic bomb, smoking and even a deadly flu spread by birds!! The most recent one is a beloved friend and companion, a device equally adored as it is despised.

Studies conducted by neurosurgeons reveal growing evidence showing that excessive, long-term mobile use appears to be connected with specific types of brain tumours. Publications in medical and scientific literature, based on increased evidence supporting the theory, suggest an almost certain link. More specifically, the evidence indicate that there is an increased risk of developing a brain tumour on the preferred side for mobile use. I may not know what acoustic neuroma and astrocytoma exactly are but they don’t sound very jolly, and note that those two types of brain tumours do develop on the side of brain coming more in contact with mobile devices.

I am sure that many of you are already familiar with the theory, as it emerged few years ago. Back then studies and research proved no correlation between mobile technology and brain tumours. Unfortunately few individuals' raising voices that tumours develop over a period of 10 years were quickly silenced by mobile manufacturers. Unfortunately though, 10 years or more is actually the probable time length a tumour needs to develop, and mobile technology was introduced to the wide public around 10 years ago. The meaning is simple; effects on public health started to emerge recently and will reach maturity around year 2012.

I just hope the same voices which rise today screaming for caution when it comes to children using mobile phones, will not be silenced easily.

No keyboard or mouse, just brains

First came Nintendo Wii to amaze gamers with its pioneering technology, then it was Guitar Hero exploring new kinds of kinetic interface. In the meantime in our work environments we are stuck with technology like the QWERTY keyboard and the computer mouse dating back 134 years and 45 years respectively.

Few steps are taken in order to revolutionize office technology, and it is the usual suspect Microsoft who is already busy developing Surface, an alternative to keyboard and mouse. This move will probably signify the beginning of a new era in the consumer electronics world. Kristin Alexander, head of research and planning for Microsoft Surface, claims that interfaces will, in the longer term, move beyond table top screens to other spaces. "That's why we called it Surface and not table", she said while Microsoft still remaines committed to the mouse.

But if that’s Microsoft’s ambitious plan they may have a bit of catching up to do. Cynergy Systems is a company that already presented a showcase of a home made "Minority Report" style gesture-interface. The system utilizes Nintendo Wii controller, a gutted computer mouse, and a pair of baseball gloves dotted with infra-red LED's bringing the cost to around $150. According to early feedback, regardless of the device’s homebrew-feel, the results were impressive.



Currently Microsoft Surface costs thousand of dollars while Cynergy’s system could be much cheaper and quite similar but without the surface.

The latest development though called Emotiv actually remind of that old spy film on which Clint Eastwood was operating a Russian Aircraft’s weapons with his mind. Similarly Emotiv utilizes electrical activity in the brain to control computer systems and is regarded as the most promising next generation development.


Amazing sci-fi stuff, isn’t it?

Access Internet and Mobile Everywhere

By next year, Londoners will be using their phones on the tube. London mayor Ken Livingstone has announced plans to install transmitters that will also allow access to wireless internet and digital radio.

Some London cabs are already fitted with special pockets which have chargers for every type of mobile plus iPods and laptops for use on your journey. How long will it be before these appear everywhere from shops to cafes?

But some people feel this is unnecessary, given the risk it will bring from terrorists who could use a mobile to detonate a bomb on the tube by calling the mobile-cum-detonator from overground.

If your book has turned boring and you fancy reading a new one then you won't need to wait for a bookshop. A couple of clicks on your big-screen mobile and entire novels can be delivered to your phone to read at your convenience.

Pretty soon you will be able to make and receive calls on your mobile when you are 35,000 feet high in a plane. (Bet you can't wait to be surrounded by fellow passengers shouting "I'm on the plane"). Australia has already issued a licence to operate in-flight mobile services, though the earliest that services could be available from UK registered airlines is 2008, subject to approval by the aviation authorities. Of course it's up to individual airlines to choose whether they permit use of the system but it's hard to imagine any of them missing such a commercial opportunity. So you can expect to either pay a premium to be seated in a 'mobile-ready' area or pay even more to be seated in a 'quiet zone'. You have to be careful what you wish for.

Logitech Squeezebox Wireless Music Streaming

Two days ago, I made a promise to my beloved Rita through my post and I am not the kind of guy who would break a promise. So, cutting to the chase, by now it should be perfectly clear how easy it has become to stream music in your house with a wireless music system. We actually went through Sonos Multi-Room system, realizing why it has received enthusiastic reviews and how it became the best product in its class upon its release.

Sonos is being challenged by the new Squeezebox Duet from Logitech. I usually prefer to start from something more creative than price but the difference here is massive. Thus, the question inspiring this post is “how does the new $400 Squeezebox Duet stand up against the $999 Sonos Multi-Room Music System?

Their basic concept is the same, both coming with a remote control and a box which accesses wirelessly music in your computer and feeds it to a sound system. It is a standard for both systems, being wirelessly online, that you have access to online radio and music services, such as Pandora and Rhapsody.

Basically, the Squeezebox remote control is a redesign of the Sonos’ control and several features are if not the same then quite similar. For some strange reason though, when comparing the two Squeezebox’s control is more complicated and less user friendly. And it is definitely slow; there is literally a delay of one or two seconds between command and execution, while reports of consecutive crashes put Logitech on an uneasy situation. 1 point given to Sonos.

The Squeezebox comes with one receiver less than the Sonos, so its only one, giving you the option to connect to the Internet and your home network with a cable or through Wi-Fi. Using the remote, the setup works exactly like on your PC. Select network, enter password and you are connected in no time, though, Logitech announced performance drops when more devices access the network. No points earned here.

Additionally, a very handy feature appearing only on Sonos system is the built in amplifier allowing you to bypass stereo equipment and plug directly into your speakers.

Summing up, the Squeezebox might be more compact and sleeker with glossy and matte black finishes matching most high-definition TVs and stereos. Sonos is a white and gray case that would go with pretty much nothing, maybe with an antique Nintendo NES. And yes Sonos's receivers are significantly larger than the Squeezebox ones, but bear in mind that the two systems are almost 2 years afar from each other. BUT, Sonos is more intuitive in terms of technology and software, is supporting up to 32 rooms, while the Squeezebox can handle between 6 and 10 rooms and if you're playing the same track in different rooms you will not notice any synchronization problems as with the Squeezebox. Of course Sonos does carry a huge near-$600 premium over the new Squeezebox... But isn’t it worth it really?

Sonos Wireless Music Streaming

There has been a lot of progress in the field of electricity since Benjamin Franklin’s experiments with the kite, the thunder and the key. Today humanity already counts more almost 3 centuries mastering the "thunder god" and we still use pretty much the same means of transferring electric power. Wires still resemble a lot their ancestors and let’s face it, they are everywhere. And just because Rita hates wires and extensions I decided to devote two posts to a new technology doing baby steps along with devices like Wii.

Obviously there are plenty of wireless music systems already competing in the home entertainment arena, but lets start with Sonos which is more than one year old by now. Sonos is a wireless DJ music system conceived from Logitech that managed to incorporate excellent technology and functionality on a sensible price. The device, comprised from a remote control and a box for transferring music from your computer, is very slick as the remote control features a clickable scroll wheel. Yet, the LCD, though functional, fails to complement the design.

Sonos is coming with StreamPoint, a software compatible with popular jukeboxes like iTunes, Windows Media Player and Musicmatch, using a 2.4GHz wireless technology for streaming digitally your tracks to the included Music Receiver. The Sonos controller is quite intuitive, and responsive with the menus and buttons simply laid out based on practicality and common sense. The system includes two receivers, called ZonePlayers but the setup requires at least to be pluged in to your computer's cable modem, DSL modem or router with an Ethernet cable. In that sense, ZonePlayer becomes a wireless base station connected to other ZonePlayers in the house.

With this setup, Sonos obviously creates a seperate network to the existing Wi-Fi, making the system more reliable with fast and flawless connection. It’s a given that you can tune in to Internet radio and online music services, the likes of Pandora (only in the US, damn it) and Rhapsody, needless of your computer, while Napster and Sirius Satellite Radio are supported as well.

Unfortunately, Sonos cannot play copy-protected songs purchased from Apple Inc.'s iTunes because only Apple's products can play such tracks. Now, coming at around $1000 does it really worth its money? Well, I have one more contestant for the next post where we will proclaim the winner. Ideas and feedback are welcome.