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Testing Plus Embed

2011-07-27T19:30:00.000-05:00

M Reads Books!

2011-04-29T11:40:00.000-05:00

One of my lovely daughters has started blogging (through my beautiful bride) her book reviews! M is an avid reader and wants to share her opinions on what she reads with you at M Reads Books.

Enjoy!

Good Luck, Jim!

2008-06-30T13:15:00.003-05:00

Audeo: Voice Free Cellphones?!?

2008-03-14T09:22:00.008-05:00

Sorry to leave you hanging for so long. Life, work... more life, more work. You know the drill.

I just read a post on OhGizmo! about Audeo. It's a voice-free cellphone technology currently being developed by Ambient. I'll say very little about this, but just skip right to the video... more compelling than it's cellphone application are uses for ALS victims, empowering them to speak more easily, and the last 40 seconds of the video (beginning at 2:40 or so), which you'll just have to see.

Enjoy!

ChiliPad

2007-12-28T09:01:00.000-06:00

I know you were all geared up for another phone-related post this morning, but NO! There's a whole other world of stuff to look at! Stuff that doesn't necessarily let you call people in many splendid ways!

Enter: ChiliPad. This is not your daddy's electric blanket!

I found this mentioned on both OhGizmo! and SlashGear. ChiliPad heats or cools water and pumps it around your mattress. This allows you to alter the temperature of your bed to between 68-118°F, in 1°F increments. With this, you can sleep comfortably and ease the strain on your HVAC at the same time, saving you money. Well, saving money after a long break-even period... it retails between $479 and $999, based on size and single/dual-zone.

Sleep well.

Grand Central

2007-12-17T14:46:00.001-06:00

Long time between posts... busy season. Sorry for your wait.

Our favorite search engine has expanded the empire once again (old news) with another acquisition. This was reported on the Official Google Blog way back in July, but here it is for your fresh eyes! They've bought GrandCentral, and I can't wait to kick the tires...

If you can get an account (click to "Reserve: Save a Phone Number for me") you will have one phone number that will ring all your other specified phone numbers. You can also have specific incoming callers (based on their phone number) directed to specific phones. For instance, I could have all family members sent to my super-secret private phone, my lawyer sent to my satellite phone in the Andes, clients to my cellular in my hip, and if the POTUS calls, ring all phones at once. Furthermore, I can switch from my cellular to my land lines mid-call (and vice verse), and even listen in as people leave voice mail, making a decision to pick them up or leave them in my voicemail.

I just can't say enough about the possibilities of this service... and I'm DYING to get an account to try it out and share more info!

InGrid Digital Home Protection™ System

2007-10-08T10:23:00.000-05:00

Flipping through Engadget today, found the InGrid Digital Home Protection™ System.

What sets this apart from other home security systems is that it monitors your home through your broadband connection, with the "Protection heartbeat" which communicates to InGrid's servers several times per minute to monitor your sensors, controllers and communication pathways (as described on BusinessWire).

Hate the idea of dropping your broadband connection in a freak construction accident? Bah! You'll be fine: they connect to your phoneline, as well. Future versions will also include wireless, but you can already message your cell phone for alerts.

Your personal security website allows you to configure your system, including setting up non-emergency sensors (think the cookie jar, the bar downstairs, or your gun cabinet) to let you know when someone's getting into your stuff but you DON'T need help from the police.

"Basic" system is $200 (covers about 1500 sq ft), "Home" is $300 (2500 sq ft). Both prices are with 1-year contracts (no-contract and 3-year options are avilable), monitoring is $30 per month. Additional sensors available (motion, door/window/glassbreak, smoke). A handy form on the site helps you build your system.

Word on the street has it that they are currently working on a video accessory, as well.

Ooma

2007-09-18T16:35:00.000-05:00

As mentioned on Gizmodo, Ooma is a VoIP/Landline phone that provides free calls for life (in the US)... say wha...!?!

It also provides a "virtual second line" and 911 service (through your landline). At $400, it isn't cheap up front, but me thinks it pays for itself in the long run!

WSJ also had a piece on this.

Commentary/Changes

2007-09-06T14:06:00.000-05:00

Wow! Note the rarity of posts in this blog. Add the fact that I actually lay eyes on nearly 400 blog posts, news articles and press releases (average) per DAY to find items worthy of mention, and you'll have an understanding of my frustration in keeping this interesting. My record is 2838 blog posts viewed in one day (I skipped the previous few days for vacation).

I'm considering expanding the content area to all things tech that interest me... getting out of the house, you might say.

Still, I refuse to post about the iPhone, iPod, iAnything that I see on more than 10 other blogs. The Google Phone is special to me, so I promise I'll let you know as I hear anything about it.

I'll give content areas some thought and get back to you...

HC 1000 Security Camera

2007-08-21T14:54:00.000-05:00

As found on Engadget, this little baddie allows access via internet or FOMA mobile, with QVGA resolution (3Megapixel), 2x zoom (digital only... sorry), ethernet/802.11a/b/g IP network access, and built-in microphone and speaker for 2-way communication. It can trigger your home security system to response with sirens blaring, or allow you to keep an eye on your stuff/family/office.

About $247.

Google Phone

2007-08-07T22:58:00.000-05:00

What a lovely day. I really do love these guys. Word on the street has it that Google is working with a mobile phone prototype. Add to that the news that they're bidding for the 700Mhz band in the FCC Spectrum auction and you've got yourself some interesting news. Engadget, Gizmodo and Slashdot have been all over this (see bottom of page).

PLEASE tell me where to go to sign on to test a gPhone!

Did I mention it would be an ad-supported phone... no direct cost to the consumer? Well I guess I have now.

Have a lovely day.

(call me, Google: I can help!)

Mollers Flying Car?!?

2007-07-26T12:20:00.000-05:00

Since 1984, Moller International has been working on the Sky Car concept. Test flights of various prototypes have been performed since 1989. Dozens of TV and magazine articles since 1998 have profiled the company and the dream. Now, the company is launching its first product!

It's NOT the full-flight Sky Car M400 that's available, though. It's the 10ft hovering M200G.

It can carry up to 250lbs at 50MPH. FLight times are expected to be about 45-90 minutes, depending upon speed (I expect the 250 pounder going 50MPH won't have to be in the air more than 45 or so. Taking orders now, but not a fixed price to be found, only that "Depending upon engine production volume the M200G price could start as low as $90,000".

Have fun, kiddos!

Ring

2007-07-18T09:39:00.000-05:00

My alarm wakes up the entire family. When I get up, they get up. There's something about having barely-awake but needy 2 and 4 year olds running around that suck all the productivity out of the morning! Enter "Ring".

I saw this on Yanko Design and SlashGear, and thought it was pretty handy (pun intended).

Placed in the charging station, you can set alarm times for each of the two adjustable rings. At the prescribed time, the ring vibrates on your finger to wake you, and only you.

zBoost

2007-07-13T11:24:00.000-05:00

Have signal trouble at home? In the office? Not any more! Turn your 1-bar signal into 5-bars with zBoost!

This signal extender works with CDMA, GSM, TDMA AMPS, GPRS, EDGE, 1xRTT, and EVDO (everyone but Nextel).

The only downside I can see is cost: $249.99.

Phoebe Electric Radiator

2007-07-05T11:39:00.000-05:00

Not that I have a spot in my home that's classy enough for this...

This is an electric radiator at its core, surrounded by plates that act as heat disappators to move the warmth over a greater area. Mr. Smith Studio.

Triton Body Dryer

2007-06-25T22:28:00.000-05:00

Towels? Who needs towels?!?

In about 3 minutes, this little widget drys you off by blowing heated air over you. Yes, it's a blow dryer for your body. Not revolutionary, but I thought it was neat.

Learn more form the makers. Note that some of the ads would not be considered safe for work in the US. Use your judgement.

Swift Rooftop Wind Energy System

2007-06-20T16:34:00.000-05:00

This is NOT for your more urban home. Your neighborhood association won't like it at all, but on the farm, or more rural properties, this would be a nice little fella to have around.

Currently, installations are going up in parts of western Europe... can't wait to bring these home.

Most home-scale wind generators are bigger, uglier, noisier, and suffer in the turbulent wind found at these lower altitudes. This little guy is a little bigger than a satellite dish, and cranks out some serious power for it's size. Each is rated to generate about 1.5Kw at 12 meters per second (almost 27mph). Three or four should power your home with the proper energy storage, but you'll need them a little higher than roof-top to get to those wind speeds around here. Probably 50-90ft pole would do.

These are made by Renewable Devices in Edinburgh, United Kingdom.

Buy it or build it, this is one fun technology to watch. With all the recent growth in "Green Tech", this might be a company to watch, as well.

Biometric Door Locks

2007-06-18T16:44:00.000-05:00

These have been around for a while in the office (well, some offices anyway), but are beginning to make it into our homes in styles that don't look like they belong on a bank vault.

Check out some of the varieties available from Amazon (yes, I would make money on a purchase from this link... don't let that stop you from looking).

Personally, I love the idea of having one less key rattling in my pocket, and never fumbling around with an arm full of groceries trying to get the right key in hand to open the door. Just one quick swipe and you're in.

Tech I want...

2007-06-18T16:18:00.000-05:00

After much deliberation, I've finally decided to get this ball rolling with fresh content. Here's where we're headed:

I'm a REALTOR®, so I have an interest in what's happening in home technology. When I find things that:

I'd just love to have,
I haven't seen before or
I think you might not have seen

... I'll post them here. I'm also into all manner of gadgetry that don't necessarily qualify as "Home Tech"... please be forgiving: I love this stuff, and it's hard sometimes to see some of the amazing things going on in the world of technology and NOT get excited about it, and not share it. I'll try to strike a healthy balance of home tech and just really neat tech stuff.

Well... off we go! Thanks for joining me.