Hello Kitty tech toys

Posted on August 30, 2010 by admin

All you hello kitty fans please eat your hearts out because I have got the perfect hello kitty fun usb toys for you! I know there are many people out there who are crazy and mad about hello kitty. Not sure if your country’s Mac Donald’s had ever sell hello kitty toys with their happy meals. There was once this happened in my country and people were queuing all over the Mac Donald’s fast food restaurants in the country buying happy meals. Due to the long crowds and queues, there were also scuffles between those queuing. Men were also queuing up to buy the happy meals for their girlfriends, spouses or maybe those they were trying to chase. Then there were students who were skipping school just to get their hands on some hello kitty. People were buying as many hello kitty soft toys as they can and throwing away the food that came with the happy meals. Many tried to sell the hello kitties on eBay and online forums and with quite success too I think. No matter what it is, the hello kitty craze showed a different side to humanity!

Which brings me to the point that with this hello kitty usb toy, you can just buy it from the web and you do not need to queue or fight with others to get it. This cool usb toy is a Hello Kitty fairy that makes quite a bit of noise! Of that is only when motion is detected, such is how high tech this hello kitty toy is! When the Hello Kitty izmo USB toy detects some person’s movement, that is when the hello kitty is plugged into the usb port, it will come alive and wave its wand in her hand, and there would be “shing” “shing” sounds coming from it, sort of indicating that the hello kitty toy is sprinkling some cool fairy dust. Cool!

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What to Look For In a Good Pocket Camcorder

Posted on August 30, 2010 by admin

With the fast-emerging new technologies in the world of IT and multimedia, it can get quite challenging to deal with abrupt changes. There are many product lines that continue to move forward, but people tend to get caught up in the past. Camcorders have greatly evolved. Today, almost everyone can shoot videos anytime of day using camcorders or even their mobile phones. However, for someone who would like to move away from the big and bulky recorders, pocket camcorders can be the perfect substitute. But the question is how do you know what to look for in a good pocket camcorder before you make a purchase?

First and foremost, look into the advanced technology packed in the nifty device. If you go for the pocket video recorder’s portability, find something that comfortably fits your hand and the bag you usually carry with you. However, if you’re after the overall video quality, then consider the recording capabilities and determine whether if the camcorder is capable of recording videos in HD (high-definition) as this is the current market standard for good video quality. Be sure to check out the Kodak Zi8 review as it’s currently one of the best pocket camcorder that’s capable of recording 1080p video.

Next, the storage capacity of the recorder should be considered. The typical camcorders use mini DVs or mini DVDs. There are also some that use built-in HDD or can be used with an expandable memory using SD cards. Find one that records in a format that is most convenient for you. If you intend to keep it for long, then mini DV recording is a good choice. However, if you plan to make some post-processing and editing on the video, then opt for the HDD or SD card so you can easily transfer it to your computer and record it back to a DVD or CD for permanent storage.

Last but not the least, try considering the screen size with which you can view your videos using the recorder. While this may differ depending on the size of the entire pocket camcorder, it is important that you find something that lets you easily view your recorded shots. There are also some that functions as its built-in viewfinder that allows you to see what’s being recorded at the time you’re filming it.

Those are just some of the basic features you should look for before getting your hands on your own pocket camcorder. There are still many things that need to be considered especially if you’re particular about its look, reliability, and performance but the factors given above should be good enough to let you decide.

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How To Buy A Document Scanner?

Posted on August 30, 2010 by admin

If you are looking for a scanner in your office, or in your home, you need to make a few good decisions to avoid purchasing a machine that does not fit your requirements. By doing some research you can avoid wasting hundreds of dollars on a machine that doesn’t even meet your requirements. In this post I will go through a few advice on buying a scanner. Continue reading →

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Kinect Games for the XBox

Posted on August 29, 2010 by admin

Video games are near or at the top of most children’s to-do lists. Until more recently, parents got frustrated by this because it created “couch potatoes”. Their children weren’t getting enough exercise. We have all heard more than once how our youth are more obese than any generation before. Well along came Dance, Dance Revolution, a video game that incorporated real life physical interaction. Then Nintendo’s Wii used the principle for even more games and used even more activities than dance. The Wii remote is motion censored so movement is necessary for most programs. Wii even has Wii Fit, a “game” designed solely as an exercise program. Many people have credited such programs for their substantial weight loss. Finally Microsoft has debuted its answer in a new XBox peripheral motion-detecting device called the “Kinect” and a list of Kinect games for the XBox system.

The Sony Playstation did have its own version of a motion sensing camera, but this was somewhat of a flop. The Kinect uses a similar technology, but much more refined (and way better games). It has a web camera that records your entire body movement instantly and implements it into whatever game you are playing. This eliminates the need for any remote (or board to stand on) and leaves your hands free. With this creation, your movements can be exactly what they would be if you were involved in the activity outside of a video game. Every swing of a tennis racket or baseball bat should be done as if you were on the court or on the field.

Besides the hands free benefits, Kinect also has a voice activation feature for games as well as movies. Saying “XBox pause” will pause your program and saying “XBox play” will start it again. These are just two examples of the many voice control phrases the XBox Kinect offers. We all know this feature comes in handy. The best part is how quick it can work, especially if the remote is lost. A few quick words and your game or movie is stopped until you are ready to resume your Kinect fun. No more interruptions that cause you to mess up your score!

It is true that exercise is a lost habit in our technological culture. It is great that all the video game companies have helped out by creating exercising programs you can use with their products. The XBox Kinect is sure to be considered one of the easiest to use and most beneficial. Now burn those carbs!

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Building A Home Theater PC

Posted on August 25, 2010 by admin

With the plethora of multimedia devices used for playback in the average home today, it can be a confusing task to set up a home theater without using a bunch of switching boxes, receivers, and cables running all over the house. Although many cope with this type of setup, there is another way – building a home theater PC! HTPCs are quite simply a computer just like your desktop, but with certain changes to the configuration that emphasise media playback.

When planning a home theater PC, on of the big considerations is noise level. Many normal PCs are louder than you might think, due to the moving parts in optical and hard disk drives, and the various fans used to cool the internal components. A standard PC might have 8 fans or more, to cool the power supply, case, CPU, video card and so on. When building a home theater PC, we can tackle noise by using less fans, with cooler running components to make up for the shortfall, and by using quiter fans which are designed for silent operation.

The other main choice is with the style of case and the range of functions that the HTPC will have. Some of the common choices are a media reader, which allows playback from any device you have, and a TV tuner card. TV tuner cards let you watch analog, digital, or even cable TV with your HTPC. Many HTPC builders choose to add two TV tuner cards, allowing for simultaneous recording and viewing of separate channels.

HTPC cases can be found that look very much like any other part of your home theater system. The benefit of these is that they also often come with remotes, or at least an IR receiver to make them compatible with third party remotes.

Once these choices have been made, actually building the home theater PC is fairly straight forward – components either screw or clip together (follow the instructions carefully) and then it’s just a matter of installing your operating system of choice, and enjoying a huge range of media and internet browsing from the comfor of your lounge suite!

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Microsoft Word Training – References

Posted on August 25, 2010 by admin

When people who have not worked on a computer before ask me what Microsoft Word does, I normally explain that you can do everything in Word that used to be done on a typewriter, only better. This includes writing letters, typing your favourite recipe, doing a shopping list or setting up a menu. Whilst this is undoubtable where Microsoft Word started, there is a lot more to the program than that as any Microsoft Word training program will show.
One feature that I particularly enjoy is the various references that Microsoft Word offers. I have been using the footnotes, Table of Content and Index for years, and these features are also normally covered in word training, normally in the intermediate or advanced courses. Not having to do these manually once a document is completed is such a time saver, not to mention the effort that would otherwise be required to keep the page numbers consistent when the document changes.
While recently presenting training on Microsoft Word, I was asked if it was possible to automatically do a Bibliography based on the Chicago style of referencing. Never having used these features and never having heard of the ‘Chicago’ style of referencing, I could not answer the question.
Unlike most people, I actually like it when I get questions that I cannot answer. This gives me the opportunity to do some research and learn something new. Starting up Microsoft Word 2007 and going to the References Tab, I found a Citations & Bibliography group as well as a group called Table of Authorities. To get this working is simplicity itself.
Whilst writing your book or thesis in word, use the Insert Citation option to site a book, journal article or other periodical as the source of a piece of information in the document. Word formats the citation according to the style that was selected. A list of sources can be maintained. This is especially useful if the same source is quoted a number of times. Once the document has been completed, add a Bibliography, which lists all the sources cited in the document.
As with all references, when changes are made to the document it is a simple matter of updating the Bibliography by right clicking on it and updating the field. This will automatically reflect all changes made to the citations in the document, including the page numbers.

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PC Freezes: Was It Something You Installed?

Posted on August 25, 2010 by admin

Just about every computer will freeze or hang at some time or another. The worst case scenario is that there is a hardware failure. But for the majority of cases, a PC freezes due to some application, service or hardware that was introduced to the computer. This article looks at how to troubleshoot the problem.

The normal scenario is that you are working away when your computer freezes up for no apparent reason. If you are lucky then some exception is displayed first. If not, then you may observe that it occurs with specific applications.

In the majority of cases it is due to a problem with a single application. Often, there is a bug with the application that is causing the issue. The brute force solution to this is to remove the application. If install shield is used then this should roll back changes to the registry for you (another common cause of problems like this).

But if you wish to approach this more constructively then you should consider why the PC freezes with this one application:

Is the program supported on my operating system version (check the help/install documentation)? If not, does the company have a version that I could use?
Does the program have minimum requirements regarding CPU, RAM and disk space? Perhaps my PC is freezing up due to a lack of RAM. You may find many modern applications can be quite demanding on your resources.
Have other customers reported the same problem? Perhaps this is a known issue and others have already found a workaround.

There may be specific considerations for certain applications. For example, programs like browsers permit users to install add-ons to the browser which could potentially cause PC freezes if they start caching RAM erroneously. Roll back any program update, such as add-ons, in order to attempt a resolution.

There is no 1 quick fix to this sort of problem so while you may have installed the problem program you should also considering scanning for viruses and doing PC repairs such as checking the registry for faults and running Windows update service.

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The Best Technology For Your Business

Posted on August 24, 2010 by admin

Sometimes, I get so wrapped up in the day to day operations of running my business, I lose sight of the really important big picture.  It’s a very easy thing to do, and pretty common when it comes to small businesses.  One of the best things I did recently was to actually take some time off.  It allowed be to get away from the minutia of running my business, and let my mind start to think a bit more about the larger picture.  One of the things I realized, was that even though my business was profitable, it wasn’t growing at all.  It had become pretty stagnant over the last few months, and the only way for me to grow it, was to free up some of my time.

Hiring employees to do work was one possibility, but not one I was ready to consider at the moment.  Automation was however another strong possibility.  Handling the management of orders was a big hassle for me to do, so I took a look at some order processing software to see what it could do for me.  I was pleasantly surprised to see the number and quality of available applications off the shelf available for me to work with.  While, I knew there would be a learning curve to getting things started, that in the long run it would be beneficial.  Several months later, I now see opportunities that would have been impossible before hand due to my time constraints.

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Learning New Languages With Your Computer

Posted on August 24, 2010 by admin

One of the most popular undertakings as people get older, is that of learning a new language. When were young, and learn a new language, it’s pretty easy. We’re learning and developing all kinds of new skills including language. It’s easier it seems, because our brains are like little sponges. We just keep sucking up everything we see and hear around us as our bodies are wired to work that way. But, as we get older, our ability to learn new and interesting things get’s more difficult. Yep, it’s that “teaching an old dog new tricks” thing. If your really determined though, there’s no reason why you can’t do something like learn a new language at any age.

Computers are pretty great for learning new languages. They’re incredibly patient teachers, and if you get the right language learning software, you’ll find it goes pretty quick.  Actually, it can go as slow or quickly as you need it to.  That’s the beauty of computer based teaching.  You get to learn at whatever rate is comfortable for you.  One other advantage of using a computer to learn a new language, is that you get to put it into practice right away.  Think about it.  Your computer is connected through the internet to every country around the world.  There are thousands or possibly millions of people that speak your new language on the internet.  You can chat with them, MSN message with them, video call them, and read websites written in that language.  It’s almost a truly immerse language learning experience right in your own home.

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Where Is Mobile Phone Technology Taking Us?

Posted on August 17, 2010 by admin

As many of my readers here are aware, I recently acquired one of Nokia’s new mobile phones, the N900.  I keep telling everybody, that’s it’s really a computer and not a mobile phone, but were all just so used to calling any gadget that fits in your pocket a mobile phone it’s hard to get the concept across.  As cool and advanced as the N900 is, I really believe that there are tons of room for improvement with it, and that it’s successors will one day replace the desktop computer as we know it.   That’s a pretty big claim I know, but one that is quite possible within the next five years I think.  There are people I work with, that prefer their mobile smartphone over their desktop or laptop computer.

The only thing I believe keeping mobiles away from replacing computers, is the human interface.  Their screen size, and their keyboard layout are difficult for some to cope with.  Entering this article, would be possible to do on my N900, but it would take me at least twice as long.  My phone has more than enough processing power, but the screen real estate and typing with thumbs would be too slow for me.  My kids would do better, after all the thousands of text message they’ve sent, their incredibly fast at thumb typing.    That again is another reason why I think 5 years is plenty of time for mobile smart phones to be considered desktop replacements.  We’re raising a generation of mini computer (cellphone) users.  They’re more adept at using the technology, and the technology keeps getting better.  It’s only a matter of time (very short time), when those two paths will become inexplicably connected.

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Best CRM Software – Open Source

Posted on August 17, 2010 by admin

Customer Relationship Management (CRM) is a marketing strategy that manages your business’s need to deliver customer satisfaction and increase sales in the business while reducing expenses. To achieve all of this, companies choose to use a software tool often simply referred to as CRM. With CRM software all sales, marketing, and customer service activities are automatically monitored, synchronized, and organized. The software won’t solve all your problems; you’ll still need a good team to manage it. All the data gathered by CRM software should be kept updated and easily accessible to employees so that they can meet the needs of your customers. A lot of the best CRM software available are open source. This means that companies can treat their customers right for free. Continue reading →

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Using a Laptop with Webcam as a Security Tool

Posted on August 14, 2010 by admin

To all the bosses out there – maybe it’s about time you got a webcam for laptop.

For the longest time already, employees slacking off at work has been a problem for bosses all over the world.  Lazy employees have long been taking advantage of busy superiors, using their bosses’ meetings to catch some extra – albeit illegal – free time, perhaps take an extra coffee or cigarette break.  Employees would even take advantage of five-finger discounts, robbing locker areas while security would be taking a quick nap.  But with the simple use of a laptop with webcam, all this could be put to rest, or at least controlled.

Having this extra means of security would now enable bosses to find out who’s been goofing off at the workplace while he or she is away.  All the proof would be in the pudding, as a webcam for laptop is able to catch not only video, but also clear audio recordings if the right webcam is used.  So while the webcam may not be able to follow said slacker to the smoking area or to the pantry for a cup of coffee, it may just catch some valuable snippets of conversation about where said employee is headed to.  And while most large companies have elaborate security cameras installed in strategic places, a laptop with webcam could provide an extra boost – you can never be too safe in these dangerous times!

Indeed, the webcam serves more purposes than simply being a tool for friends, couples and family to communicate with one another, or a tool for enhanced online dating.  For working types, it’s more than a tool to communicate with clients or co-workers.  It can also be a powerful security device if used properly.  Would-be slackers and office thieves may just as well start thinking twice before committing their next misdeed – because while the boss or security may not always be watching, the laptop with webcam definitely will.

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Games for Playstation Move look promising

Posted on August 13, 2010 by admin

With it becoming available in September 2010, Sony has begun announcing the games for Playstation Move. The Move is an interactive, motion-based technological program that uses three single entities to make a complete, realistic, delay-free, Blu Ray HD quality game play for the user. With the use of the motion controller, the Playstation Eye, and the navigation controller, video gaming is taken a step above what has already been done.

Similar to Microsoft’s Kinect for the Xbox 360 and the Nintendo Wii by Nintendo, Playstation Move uses a motion controller to pinpoint the player’s exact location and movement by pointing the sphere at the screen. The Eye in turn detects the motion and then relays this image to the player’s television screen and video game, thus allowing the target to accurately and precisely be hit. There are no more delays or lag time, and the player’s accuracy can no longer be called “luck” or “a fluke”. Continue reading →

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When Can I Jack In Permanently?

Posted on July 16, 2010 by admin

More and more, science fiction comes closer to the real world, as the technology around us accelerates at an even quicker and quicker rate.  Being a bit of a gadget freak, I must admit this is a pretty cool time to be living in.  I spend a lot of time in online world, both for business and pleasure.  What I am not though, is an early adopter.  While I may research stuff like  a mobile internet dongle when it first comes out, I won’t be standing in line at 6am in the morning at my local big box electronics store to buy one when they open.  I do however like the idea of being totally connected to the wired world at all times.

Just recently, I bought my first smart phone.  It’s a Nokia N900, and I must say, this is the coolest gadget I’ve ever purchased.  I’ve been eying smart phones for a while, but they’ve always seemed a little too restrictive for me.  It terms of either what the hardware could do, or what the vendor / cell provider would allow you to do.  If you compare broadband dongle with the data plan I got for the phone, they’re pretty similar.  I do use the device as more of a computer than a phone, which is fine since that’s what it was designed for.  I do a lot of business online, so it made sense from a business perspective to extend by online availability.

I don’t use the phone part of it a whole lot, as I’m not a real talker, so getting good internet coverage was important for me.  This new phone, is kind of like have a laptop and a dongle, except that my Nokia fits into my pants pocket.  If I am going to be away for a longer period of time, then there’s no substitute for a laptop.  There still something to be said for a full size keyboard and nice big screen.

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Laptop Financing, Makes New Laptops Easy To Get

Posted on July 7, 2010 by admin

Nowadays more and more people are using some form of laptop financing to purchase their laptops. With laptops being a big ticket item most people can’t afford to buy one without some form of financing. If you are one of the millions of American’s who are currently struggling with bad credit then don’t worry there are options out there for you too. Before you start applying anywhere you are going to want to get a copy of your credit report. You can do this once a year for no charge. Once you get your credit score you will be able to know if you are in the poor, fair or good credit range. This will help you know which financing options you can apply for and get approved.

With our economy being in a recession you may think that getting someone to lend to you can be impossible but that isn’t the case at all. Our government has given the banks literally billions of dollars so that the lending can continue. If lending were to cease our economy would really begin to fall apart. So much of our economy is dependant on lending that it is crucial that the lending continue. But by knowing your credit score you will be able to find the best financing option for you.

When in the market to purchase laptops with bad credit do not get discouraged because there are options out there for you. A great place to start is by looking at store credit cards. They usually offer a better chance of getting approved to those individuals with bad credit and sometimes they offer great incentives such as, 0% interest for six months. However, they usually do come with a higher interest rate once the promotional period runs out. But, if you have bad credit paying a little higher interest is worth the chance to get your laptop and start rebuilding your credit.

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