Just in case you missed it, American FM broadcasters are attempting a shameful money grab.  Apparently they want congress to force mobile phone manufacturers to include FM tuners in every mobile phone.  Their claim that it is to increase public safety is laughable. Perhaps they should try broadcasting some good content for a change and let the public decide if they want to carry an FM radio with them.

CNET’s article is here.

I’ve made a lot of online purchases and I often purchase goods online to take advantage of better selection and prices.   For example, I recently ordered a larger drive for my desktop PC.  Newegg and Tiger Direct both had a good product for a good price, and shipping was reasonable considering the cost of gas and my time to go to the store.

I’ve only had two bad online experience, and I got my money back both times.  Yet I continue to hear horror stories from others.  So I thought I’d share my approach.

First and foremost, there is nothing magic about shopping online.  The major difference when you walk into a shop is that you have a good idea where they are located. However, disreputable bricks-and-mortar stores (along with phone and mail order outfits) ripped off consumers for years before the Internet was invented.

So how can we shop online with confidence?

1) Consider ordering from businesses you know.  Saving a few dollars on an unknown vendor may not be worth it.

2) If you’re looking for something and don’t know where to find it, consider using eBay or Amazon. Carefully check feedback on the vendor before buying.

3) Always pay by credit card.  From time to time you may run across vendors who request payment by other means.  They might want to you wire money using Western Union or a similar service.  The problem is that once you’ve sent your money, there is little you can do about it.  Real online merchants accept credit cards or use a service like PayPal that accepts credit cards on their behalf. Period.

4) Understand any rules that apply to disputes.  For example, if you make a purchase on eBay and pay using PayPal you must open a dispute within 45 days.  Be wary of anyone who may be trying to string you along with a series of excuses, delays and apologies.

5) Next to how they treat other customers, the best predictor of how a business will treat you after getting your money is how they treat you before. When shopping online we often have our choice of products and resellers.  When I”m trying to decide, I’ll often email a few vendors to ask their advice or for product information.  The timeliness and quality of their response speaks volumes about them.

Have other words of wisdom to share?  Please comment!

These days instant gratification is often portrayed in a negative light. When my kids want something right now my response might indeed be negative.  But on the other hand, I’ll admit that — at least when it comes to books — I’ve become an instant gratification junkie.

Back before the Internet, I used to buy books because I needed the information at my fingertips.  I still have a large shelf of books from O’Reilly and Associates, because if there was an animal book on the topic it was always a safe bet. I still pull them out from time to time, but these days I’m more likely to have a browser window open on one monitor while working on the other.

But when it comes to books, much of my reading is still driven by wanting to learn, and since my lovely wife gave me a Kindle for my birthday earlier this year, buying a book has never been faster.  For example, I ran across an interesting subject earlier today, and sure enough there was a good book on the topic available for the Kindle.  Minutes later, I had it on my desktop PC and when I finish this post I’ll just turn on my Kindle and in a minute or two I’ll be reading right where I left off.  Perhaps instant gratification isn’t that bad after all.

Extremetech has a great article on building a $200 Linux PC.  It’s not a high-end machine, but it proves that you can put together a reasonable machine for everyday tasks much cheaper than you think.

I’m in Vermont this week and my daughter started complaining about an ear ache, so I dropped in to the local pharmacy (Kinney Drugs #93 in St. Johnsbury, VT).  Polysporin ear drops are available on the shelf at home in Ontario and they generally do the trick.  An employee helpfully directed me to the eye and ear products on the shelf, but all I found were homeopathic products.

I headed over to the pharmacy counter and spoke with the pharmacist.  He informed me that ear drops containing antibiotics require a prescription in VT, but we headed over to the shelf for a product he said was “almost an antibiotic” and “should do the trick”.  It turned out to be a Swiss-made homeopathic product.  Ingredients listed on the box ranged from 10 X  to 15 X.

For those unfamiliar with how homeopathic “medicine” is prepared, the ingredients are diluted, over and over again.  At 10 to 15x there might be a few molecules of the the active ingredient present, but the “medicine” is basically water.  It’s absolutely shameful that a licensed pharmacist would even suggest this type of product to a customer.

Aza Raskin has an interesting article on his blog about tabnabbing.  In summary,  an attacker can use javascript that sits quietly on a page waiting until it is no longer in the foreground (for example when you have switched to another tab in your browser), and then switches to a legit looking phishing page.  For example, you could be reading a blog, switch to another tab to do something else, and then click on a tab that looks like it is a gmail login — when it is in fact a phishing page.

This is yet another example of why passwords are a really bad idea.  However, from a practical perspective, the best thing you can do is to ensure that you have opened a tab yourself before logging in.  If you click to a tab and find yourself at a login screen, close the tab, open a new one, and navigate to the site you want.

Thanks  to Thorin for the link!

CNET has an interesting article on the Apple iPhone 4 antenna saga.  While I’d encourage you to read the whole article, in summary, the new phone is more sensitive, but the antenna position is prone to blocking when held in a certain way.  Apple’s explanation about software will change the display, and perhaps show you when you’re blocking the antenna, but it will have no impact on actual phone performance.

Personally I’d prefer if all the manufacturers would stop this hidden antenna nonsense, or at least let us pull it out for better coverage when we need it.  The closer the antenna to human flesh, the less effective it is.  Hopefully Apple gets the message that people actually want to make calls on their iPhone.

Anybody who thinks that the police overreacted in Toronto on the weekend need to watch this 10 minutes of unedited video that CTV released (sorry about the brief advertisement they force you to watch first, but it is worth it in this case).  As some criminals smash windows and destroy property, others cover for them.  If anything, the police should have reacted faster as real businesses owned by real people suffer damage.  These aren’t citizens holding a lawful protest, they’re criminals, pure and simple.

…if you hold it the right way.  Apparently while Apple is really good at user interface design, their RF engineering still leaves much to be desired.  According to CNET, Apple acknowledges the antenna issue in the iPhone 4 and recommends buying a case or not gripping the lower left corner.  Way to go Apple!

I’ve received a lot of questions about running my first 1/2 marathon in May, and many of them can be reduced down to, “How the hell did you do it?”

I’d be lying if I told you that running 21km is easy. But if you believe that you have to be in amazing physical shape, you need to take another look at my pics from the run.  At 6’7” and 250 lbs I don’t look like an athlete.  I don’t feel much like one either. 

Running a 1/2 marathon has much more to do with setting a goal, making a plan, and executing on it.  My goal was simple:  Run, walk, or crawl to the finish line.  The plan was simple:  It takes 17 weeks to train for a 1/2 marathon. Yes, I ran into problems along the way.  My calves didn’t agree with my training schedule and shin splints forced me to take two weeks off.  But I updated the plan and ran toward my goal.

Last year I started running and could hardly do 2k.  I ran three 5k races and they seemed like an eternity.  Now I’m training for my second 1/2 marathon. Earlier tonight as I headed out for my scheduled 4k training run I found myself thinking, “It’s only 4km. So I’ll focus on running faster.”  Then it dawned on me:  It’s simply a matter of perspective.

Maureen Johnson has a great post on her blog about social media, the Internet, and those who talk way more than they listen.  Highly recommended reading! (Thanks to EO for the link!)

Need help choosing a colour scheme for your web site? I just featured a very cool free web-based tool on MyPhotoSucks.com – the article is here.

At this point, I’m way, way, way in the back…

About half way, not feeling too bad…

The finish line is in sight…

21.1km down, 0 to go! Woohoo!

(Images copyright Action Sports International.  Used under license.)

As a security professional, I sometimes struggle with how much information to divulge about security vulnerabilities.  However, by the time it makes YouTube and links circulate in email, my general thought is that criminals already know about it and the benefits of informing the public outweigh the risk.

As you can see in this YouTube video, it is possible to open many residential garage doors using only a simple wedge and a wire hook.  What was intended as a safety feature to allow the door to be opened without power creates a security vulnerability.  Using a plastic cable tie might be the best way to address this, provided that you have a way to cut the cable tie if you need to open the door during a power failure.

Thre’s a good article on weather watches, weather warnings, and you over at The Squid Zone.

On Sunday I ran my first 1/2 marathon during Ottawa Race Weekend…and survived!  Thank you so much to those who made donations in support of the Ottawa Hospital and came out to cheer us on.  17 week of training paid off, and I finished in 2:41:06.7.  Not bad for a first timer! 

Here’s a track from my Garmin Forerunner imported into Google Earth (click on it for a larger image).

Next week I start training for the Canadian Army Run 1/2 Marathon.  Hooah!

As a reviewer and technology enthusiast it’s always nice to see a good product get even better.  I reviewed the original SPOT Satellite GPS Messenger back in 2008 and was thrilled. It would have been perfect for my trip to Death Valley the previous year, on family camping trips, and anywhere else there might not be mobile phone coverage.  So I bought one and it has seen a lot of travel over the past two years. It’s reassuring to know that I can contact help from almost anywhere, and with the addition of their very reasonably priced US $30 per year roadside assistance package, my “help” button will no longer require my friends and family to look at a map and figure out what I might need.

For those not familiar with the original SPOT, it has four buttons.  Power, OK, 911, and HELP.  OK sends a predefined check-in message, along with the user’s current location, to a programmed list of email addresses or mobile phone numbers.  HELP either sends a different predefined message or contacts roadside assistance if you’ve purchased that option.  911 sends your current location and a distress message to their International Emergency Rescue Coordination Center, as it did in this case.

According to the manufacturer, “The new SPOT Satellite GPS Messenger is 30% smaller and lighter than the original SPOT Satellite Personal Tracker, offers additional custom messaging modes, and uses a state-of-the-art GPS chipset and satellite communications to provide enhanced reliability and performance.”  While I never considered the first model particularly large, SPOT 2, as many are calling it, is smaller in all dimensions and felt just bit larger than a deck of cards in my hand.

Other noteworthy changes are covers over the emergency button (now labelled SOS instead of 911) and the HELP button.  Two other buttons, one to transmit an additional customized message, and one to activate the optional $50/year tracking option have also been added.

I had the opportunity to test-drive the new SPOT for a few weeks, and like with the previous model, I’m impressed. We didn’t have snow, so I couldn’t toss it in a snow bank like I did while testing the original model, but it’s obviously just as tough, and even easier to carry. And it works.

“Since its introduction, SPOT has helped in more than 450 rescues and sent millions of check-in and tracking messages around the world, making it an ideal personal safety device” said Jim Mandala, General Manager, Globalstar Canada. “Active outdoor enthusiasts such as hikers, back country skiers, snowmobilers, campers, pilots, fishermen, hunters and remote workers will appreciate the smaller compact size which makes it ideal for portable use. The improved ease-of-use will appeal to the family on-the-go or anyone who travels in remote areas or spends time outside cellular coverage.”

While there are a variety of ways to get sound in and out of your PC, sometimes a simple way is the best.  One of the products that caught my eye recently is the CAD U2 USB Stereo Headphone with Microphone and the manufacturer was kind enough to send one over for review.

The U2 combines stereo over-ear headphones with a gooseneck mic that sits to the side of your mouth, offering consistent sound pickup and minimizing popping and breath sounds.  When not in use, the mic rotates up against the headband, completely out of the way.

I tested the U2 on an HP notebook that I recently upgraded to Windows 7 64-bit.  The system recognized the USB device and installed drivers as soon as I plugged in the headset.  At first I experienced popping and crackling during audio playback, but as it turned out the issue had nothing to do with the U2 and installing an updated Windows 7-compatible chipset driver from HP resolved it.

While I’m by no means an audiophile, I do own a pair of high-end headphones and appreciate good sound. I was pleasantly surprised by the U2.  Music sounded great through the headset, and I’d have no hesitation using the mic to record a podcast or voiceovers for a presentation. I also tested the headset with Skype, calling other Skype users and regular landlines, and it worked flawlessly.

Podcasters should note that the U2 produces no sidetone and when recording audio (or using the headset for VoIP) you do not hear yourself through the earphones.  While you can tweak Windows to feed the mic audio back to the headset, the fact that audio has to pass through the USB device twice causes a small but noticeable delay. However, real-time monitoring simply can’t be done through USB or Firewire adapters – even PC recording solutions costing many times more than the U2 require that you plug your headphones into the analog stream. I personally didn’t find that this caused any difficulty during recording.

Overall, whether for podcasting, gaming, VoIP or just listening to music, the CAD U2 is simply hard to beat and easily blows away competing products costing two to three times its US $40 street price.

Choosing a camera is tough. Choosing a camera for someone else is even tougher. So with Christmas on the horizon, we’ll help you wade through the sea of cameras at your local retailer and narrow down the choices to a more manageable number.

The key to choosing a camera is to consider it a tool. Your challenge is not to find the perfect camera because it doesn’t exist. Instead, we’re looking for the best tool for the job. So to begin, we’ll divide the digital camera marketing into three categories: Pocket, Compact and SLR.

POCKET CAMERAS

Pocket cameras are ideal for those who want a small camera they can carry anywhere, anytime. This category of camera fits in a shirt pocket or a small purse. Due to their popularity, almost every camera manufacturer has at least one model in this category. Camera design involves sacrifice, and in a small camera this usually results in a short zoom range, a weak flash, and limited manual controls. Pocket cameras are therefore best for those seeking an automatic, “point and shoot” style camera. However, they are also a popular second camera amongst SLR owners for those outings where taking an SLR isn’t practical.

If you’re looking for a pocket camera, the best place to start is your local camera store. Prices and features vary, and the more expensive camera is not necessarily your best choice. While I generally refrain from recommending one brand over another, Olympus products really stand out in this category due to their water and impact resistant designs – both common causes of death in small cameras.

SLRs

On the other end of the spectrum are Single Lens Reflex (SLR) cameras. Buying an SLR is different than buying a pocket or compact camera primarily because of the interchangeable lenses. Many models are offered as a body (camera only, no lens) or as a bundle (body plus a lens). For beginners, purchasing a bundle is sometimes attractive, but in the long run it can be more expensive if one ends up upgrading the lens for a higher quality or larger zoom range. Of course your budget may be the deciding factor, but my general advice to the first-time SLR buyer is to put your money into the lens, not the camera body. A good lens will last you a lifetime, while the camera body, no matter how fantastic, will be outdated next year.

It is also important to understand that with an SLR, you’re not buying a camera. You’re buying a system. Over time you will probably acquire additional lenses and you’ll quickly reach a point where changing brands becomes prohibitively expensive. For that reason, it is important to consider the range of products that the SLR manufacturer offers. Canon and Nikon dominate the professional SLR market and offer a very wide selection of consumer products. Olympus also produce some great products, although their lens selection is not as extensive as Nikon and Canon. It also pays to consider what other members of your family shoot. For example, if your spouse has invested a number of Nikon lenses, buying a Canon might not make sense, and vice versa. As usual, your best bet is to begin at a local camera store that has knowledgeable staff.

SLRs are generally the best choice for those seeking high quality images, the flexibility offered by interchangeable lenses, and the speed required to photograph sports. They are also usually best if your goal is to take up photography as a part-time or full-time career. However, they’re also more expensive, heavier, and larger than cameras in the other categories. So before you purchase, make sure that the intended user is willing to carry it.

Compact Cameras

Between the pocket camera and the SLR lie a vast range of what I call compacts. Some are just slightly too large to fit a shirt pocket, yet are perfectly wearable on your belt, while others approach the size of a small SLR. There are so many cameras in this category that choosing one can be overwhelming. So to help you along, I spent several weeks testing the latest cameras, and here’s what I found.

The Canon PowerShot SX200 IS, at 103.0 x 60.5 x 37.6mm, is by far the smallest camera in the group I tested, and some might argue that it fits in the pocket category. The SX200’s retracting lens includes a built-in cover so no lens cap is required to keep out dust. However, the shutter-like lens protector could easily be damaged by objects such as keys, so I’d still recommend a small protective case. Unlike many other cameras this size, the SX200 has a pop-up flash. The extra distance this creates between the lens and the flash helps to eliminate red-eye, and I found the flash quite impressive while testing in my living room considering its small size. Presumably to keep the cost and size down, the SX200’s LCD screen does not move and there is no optical viewfinder. Overall this camera handles well, produces nice 12 megapixel images on an SD or SDHC card, and includes full manual controls. I also enjoyed shooting video clips of the kids at 1280×720, 30 fps. My only complaint is that the tiny dimples on the back of an otherwise smooth case aren’t enough to get firm one-handed grip. You’ll definitely want a wrist strap on this camera to avoid dropping it.

I also test drove the Nikon Coolpix P90, Panasonic DMC-FZ35, Pentax X70 and Sony DSCHX1 — in alphabetical order if you’re wondering. Overall these four cameras have much more in common than they do differences. All four are approximately 2/3 the size of an average SLR, provide full manual controls, a pop-up flash, both an LCD display and viewfinder, and a 20x give-or-take optical zoom range putting them all solidly into the “super zoom” class. All were capable of producing good quality images under good conditions. Not quite SLR quality, but good enough that most people won’t notice the difference if you use the camera properly. And while I love my SLR, these relatively light weight cameras made them a joy to carry. So what are the differences?

The Nikon Coolpix P90 ($450 street price) features a gorgeous 3” LCD that can be tilted as much as 90 degrees upward or 45 degrees downward. Being able to shoot from waist level or over your head increases the versatility of the P90. It also shoots video at up to 640×480 30fps. My single — admittedly minor — annoyance with the P90 is that Nikon has yet again providing a battery charger with a bulky AC cable. The charger and cable combined require much more space in a suitcase or backpack than do chargers by vendors that use a fold-out plug design.

The Panasonic DMC-FZ35 ($500 street price) features a fixed LCD display and 1280 x 720 AVCHD Lite format (MPEG-4/H.264) movie capability. It includes a compact battery charger with fold-out blades that takes up far less space in your bag. Unlike most cameras that use a rotating selector or a playback button, the FZ35 has a small switch close to your right thumb that takes some getting used to, especially the first time you flip it by accident. However, overall this is a solid camera and the only real downside as compared to others in this class is the lack of a tilting screen.

The Pentax X70 ($400 street price) was the least expensive of the group and didn’t have some of the features found in the more expensive models. The LCD display is fixed in place and the movie capability is more limited: 1280x720at 15fps or 84×640 at 30 fps. However, I found the zoom seemed faster than the others and strategically placed rubber pads result in a camera upon which you can get a solid grip. In many was the X70 reminded me of the old days with my K1000. A solid camera with few frills that does the job it was made to do, and not much more. Like Nikon, Pentax also needs to build a smaller charger with fold-out prongs.

Sony DSCHX1 ($530 street price) was the most expensive of the four cameras. However, it offers a great tilting screen and movie recording up to 1440 x 1080 at 30fps. While the zoom speed did seem a bit slow, overall it was within what I’d consider a normal range for this type of cameras. The battery charger is small with fold-out blades, proving that Panasonic isn’t the only company who gets it. I really liked the Sony despite it being the most expensive of the bunch, but I found it annoying that the camera uses Sony’s MemoryStick format rather than the SD or SDHC cards that have become the defacto standard for consumer electronics. Both my netbook and notebook computers have SD card slots, meaning that I have to either plug the camera into the computer (and waste camera battery power when on the road) or carry an external card reader.

And now for something different

Over the past year a new class of camera has evolved to fill the gap between compact digitals and SLRs. Back in the film days, these were rangefinders, highly capable cameras that produced SLR quality images, but without the space-consuming mirror and prism.

There are currently two cameras in this class, the Olympus E-P1 and the newly-announced Panasonic Lumix GF1. (The GF1 was not available at the time of writing). Both cameras use the new “four thirds” format sensor and offer interchangeable lenses.

The Olympus E-P1 is a solid camera with a metal case and a retro rangefinder look that just begs you to pick it up. There’s no optical viewfinder and no built-in flash, but the back-mounted LCD display gives you a live, through-the-lens view. The E-P1 offers automatic and manual exposure modes and also shoots video at up to 1280×720 at 30 fps. Olympus, known for using xD memory, wisely used standard SD/SDHC memory for this model, allowing high capacity cards.

I had the pleasure of testing the Olympus E-P1 with the bundled Olympus 14-42mm f3.5/5.6 lens (35mm equivalent zoom range of 28-84mm) and took it on a hot air balloon ride over Ottawa. Due to the relatively small body and neat lens design (the front of the lens retracts into the main lens housing when not in use), I was able to put the camera in a large jacket pocket for takeoff and landing.

I shot in RAW and the results were impressive. Olympus is known for their accurate colours, and the E-P1 is no exception. While I had no regrets about leaving my SLR at home, I did occasionally find the screen difficult to view in bright sunlight. Back on the ground I tried the camera’s continuous auto-focus mode, and I was a bit disappointed to find that it continuously hunts even when pointed at a stationary object like a tree. Hopefully Olympus will address that issue in an upcoming firmware release.

Overall, the E-P1 is a great option for those seeking high quality images without SLR size and weight. However, using the E-P1 requires more skill than an entry-level SLR, and the lack of an onboard flash will be an issue for some. So while I was very happy with my results, this camera is not the best choice for a beginner or as a general purpose family camera. However, if you’re an experienced photographer who understands the compromises involved, you should check this camera out.

Final words

No matter what kind of camera you’re looking for, the best place to start is a local camera store where experienced photographers can answer your questions. Other great sources of information include dpreview.com and you’re more than welcome to ask any questions you have at my photo site, MyPhotoSucks.com.

All of the cameras that I tested for this article were on loan from their respective manufacturer and were returned at the end of the review period. The Canon G11 was not available for testing at the time this article was written.

Nikon, Digidesign and Garmin have several things in common.  They all produce products that I’ve personally shelled out cash for.  They all produce high quality hardware that is as good, or better, than their direct competitors.  But yet I’m reluctant to purchase product from them again because, to be blunt, their software sucks.

My primary SLR has been a Nikon for many years, and while I used Nikon View (RAW image software) for a year or so, I’ll admit my first reaction to Adobe Lightroom was that it *had* to be better than Nikon View.  When I wanted a 35mm slide/negative scanner, I bought a Nikon LS4000.  It certainly wasn’t the cheapest, but hey, it was Nikon, and they knew something about achieving good image quality.

While the hardware lived up to my expectations, it took Nikon over a year to produce stable software.  In the interim, customers had to put up with nonsensical support recommendations like, “Don’t run any other software while scanning” – as if if was the customer’s fault that Nikon released software chock full of bugs. Now time has marched on, and Nikon has abandoned those of us who have upgraded to 64-bit operating systems.  It’s easy to understand why photographers would want to use a full 4 MB of RAM (or more) – but Nikon refuses to release 64-bit drivers. Ed Hamrick can do it, but not Nikon.

Digidesign is another example.  Their mbox and subsequent products were a huge hit with home recording enthusiasts, and their software worked reasonably well, other than the fact that they hobbled mobile users with a 3-inch long USB key. (The software only worked with their hardware, yet they felt it necessary to waste money and frustrate users with silly USB keys.)

Digidesign also abandoned users who dared to upgrade their operating system.  For the longest time Vista drivers were not provided, and then, grudgingly, 32-bit Vista drivers. If anyone needs lots of RAM in their PC, it’s someone doing multi-track audio recording.  But Digidesign steadfastly refuses to compile up 64-bit drivers.  My mbox has  become a book-end – and a reminder that Digidesign (owned by Avid) doesn’t stand behind their products.

Finally there’s my love-hate relationship with Garmin.  I have owned several Garmin GPSs.  One currently can be found on the dash of my vehicle, the other in my backpack.  I love Garmin’s rock-solid hardware, but when I start shopping for my next GPS I’ll probably look elsewhere — because their software sucks.

I recently needed to reinstall on my Vista PC, and doing so required that I begin with 4 or 5 year-old software.  Apparently Garmin takes the concept of an “upgrade” literally.  Until you install the old, you can’t install the new.  And since the uninstall doesn’t properly clean up the registry, it’s a painful process that includes installs failing with vague errors, Googling error messages, and ultimately uninstalling every piece of Garmin software on the PC and manually cleaning the registry.  A few hours later and some additional fighting with “unlock codes” and it finally works under Vista 64, putting it somewhat ahead of the Digidesign and Nikon software.

But usability?  Despite the cool new splash screens, Garmin MapSource looks like a high school visual basic project gone bad.  The GPS in my car can perform auto-routing.  I can type an address on the touch screen and it will give me directions. You’d think that I could easily plan routes for a multi-day trip on my PC and upload it to the GPS.  For example, the start and end addresses.  And I sort of can – by either making each destination a waypoint and invoking auto-routing on the GPS when required or letting MapSource build a route (collection of waypoints for the trip. You’d think that Garmin would understand that a trip has a start, end, and intermediate points.  Or that users might want to change the route displayed on the screen by perhaps dragging it to another road.  But the sad fact is that Google Maps is easier to work with, even if I have to print it and take a paper map with me instead.

It’s much harder to earn a new customer than keep an existing one. In these economic times it is unfortunate that some vendors still don’t get it. Having excellent hardware isn’t enough.  Customers also want great software and the ability to upgrade their operating system without loosing the use of your product.  If you don’t provide it, they’ll be looking at your competitors that do, and they won’t be back.

A month or so ago I was working on a virtualization article for the print edition of  INFOExecutive (formerly Information Week Canada). The article dealt with barriers to virtualization, one of them being USB devices.  Or so I thought!

My research took me to the web site of Minnesota-based Digi International. Digi originally developed their video, serial, and USB-over-IP devices to support point of sale and kiosk applications.  However, they have turned out to be indispensible for virtual and cloud computing applications.

The AnywhereUSB 2 provides, as the name suggests, two USB ports over ethernet.  Installation took about 10 minutes from opening the box.  I simply plugged AnywhereUSB 2 into power and an available ethernet jack, installed the drivers on my Windows 2008 server (running under VMWare ESXi), went through the very simple software configuration, and I had two USB ports connected to my server.  From anywhere.

Because AnywhereUSB uses TCP/IP, the server can find it anywhere on the local network, making it ideal for virtual environments.  While VMs may move to different physical machines, they’ll still be able to find their USB devices. 

In my home office I store most of my files on my server and access them from my desktop or notebook computers through file shares or Windows Remote Desktop.  I also use a Stealth MXP USB stick with fingerprint biometrics to transport and protect data when I hit the road, but I’d prefer not to carry it around the house.  The Digi AnywhereUSB 2 on my desk is a perfect solution.  I plug in the USB stick, swipe my finger, and it is automatically connected to a Windows 2008 virtual machine that is physically located in my computer closet.

In summary, this little box behaves exactly as advertised, and we tested it on Windows XP and Windows 2008 Server.  Windows 7 drivers are expected to be availible in April 2010.

In security circles we often discuss why some individuals and businesses find themselves in a perpetual state of high risk. While there can be complex factors, the bottom line is that many of us make poor risk management decisions in our business and personal lives.

Sometimes a high risk position results because we don’t correctly asses asset values, threats or vulnerabilities. Sometimes the cost of implementing a safeguard exceeds and expected loss, and the decision to accept risk is a logical one. And sometimes we simply make mistakes.

But there are other reasons that we Canadians are often too polite to point out: Laziness, denial, rationalization and risk decisions based upon emotion rather than logic.  The H1N1 ‘flu gives us plenty of examples.

We’re in the midst of an influenza pandemic.  Fortunately we know how to create ‘flu vaccines — we do it every year to combat the seasonal flu. So we have a vaccine, and every credible organization from the World Health Organization down to our local medical officers are recommending that we vaccinate ourselves and our families.

The risk is clear: pH1N1 is a nasty virus that, at best, will make you sick for a week or two.  At worst, it could kill you. The threat is real and much of resulting risk can be mitigated by a simple vaccination.  The Public Health Agency of Canada advises that, “without interventions like a vaccine and antivirals, close to 25 to 35 percent of the population could become ill over the period of a few months.”  Other health organizations have released similar estimates. The vaccine has been tested in Canada as well as other countries, and we know that approximately 1 in 100,000 people will have a serious reaction to it, as with any other vaccine.  (Source: http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/alert-alerte/h1n1/vacc/options-eng.php)

From a risk management perspective it doesn’t get much simpler than this. The benefits of the vaccine clearly outweigh the risks, and the cost (a few hours of our time at most) is minimal compared to the potential loss.  And that doesn’t take ethics and social responsibility into account.   Those who choose not to be vaccinated not only may become ill, but could also pass H1N1 on to more vulnerable family, friends and colleagues — including those who can’t be vaccinated due to alergies.

As a result, we continue to see people announce on the Internet that they’re not getting vaccinated. Some quote “facts” that are uninformed myths at best.  Some focus on the 1 in 100,000 serious reaction rate and completely loose perspective.  Others ignore a century or so of medical science and proclaim that they don’t need a vaccination because they are “healthy and take their herbs and vitamins.”

Chances are that you’ve already seen the writings of otherwise intelligent parents who are incapable or making good risk management decisions. Their blog posts usually start with how much they love their kids.  Then they latch on to the one quack that chargers people $50 each to attend a seminar to learn “the truth” and rationalize that “the medical community don’t all agree”.  They focus on the danger of mercury in vaccines, even though the exposure is less than you’d get from eating a can of tuna.  Or they repeat silly claims like suggesting that the vaccine is “untested”.

Some of these people obviously have other agendas.  It’s clear from their writing that they’re simply anti-vaccination shills. They write clever “balanced” articles pitting fact against laughable fiction and seek to “support” others who share their defective logic.

Some see themselves as rebells, not “giving in” to the experts who tell them they should be vaccinated.  The old phrase, “Rebells without a clue” comes to mind.

In others, the barrage of H1N1 information creates neurotic behaviour and they operate on a completely emotional level. They “agonize” (often at length and in writing) about how “difficult” the decision was.  They loose all perspective, and should you dare point out the flaws in their reasoning their feelings are hurt. How dare you suggest that they don’t know what’s best. They behave as if the act of conceiving a child instantly made them more knowledgeable on vaccines than the WHO, CDC, and the medical experts of countless countries, including their own. They have “the right” not to vaccinate themselves and their children, and as emotional people often do, they confuse having a right with it being the right thing to do.

Our friends at Panasonic were kind enough to send over their top suggestions for this holiday season.

RP-HJE160 – Ergofit Noise Isolating Earbuds (Green, Pink, Blue, Purple, Orange, Red, Black, White)

MSP: $29.99

A Perfect Gift For: Dorm Bound Students, Transit Commuters, High-Tech Tweens

Wish List Worthy Features:

• ErgoFit design and soft ear caps for ultimate comfort (S, M, L sizes)
• Compact design fits just about anywhere
• Virtual cavity technology (creates high quality sound performance)
• Powerful sound with Neodymium magnet
• Copper Clad Aluminum Wire (C.C.A.W.) and Tangle-free cord slider

RR-US570K– Digital IC Recorder (Black)

MSP: $99.99

A Perfect Gift For: Busy moms, University students, Gadget-loving Grandma and Grandpa

Wish List Worthy Features:

• Record up to 287 hours, 30 minutes – perfect for grocery list reminders, homework assignments and to-do lists^*
• Built-in zoom microphone^** (record focused on target with less surrounding noise – perfect for classrooms!)
• Speaker with high volume
• Stereo recording (up to 143 hours, 40 minutes in SLP mode)
• USB PC link and MP3 recording and playback

* In MONO SLP mode (1GB). GB means one million bytes. Usable capacity will be less

** Zoom microphone is operated on monaural recording

KX-TG7432B – Expandable Digital Cordless Answering System with 2 Handsets

MSP: $129.99

A Perfect Gift For: Business Owners, Large/Expanding Families, Chatty Teens

Wish List Worthy Features:

• Talking call display, alarm clock and battery alert
• 16-Minute all digital answering system PLUS Choice mail multiple message list
• Call Block, Night Mode, Clock & Alarm
• Energy Star® qualified
• 2.1″ White LCD Display
• Expandable up to 6 handsets

NEW RP-SDW – GOLD Series SDHC Memory Cards with Class 10 Speed

MSP: $149.99 (16 GB)

A Perfect Gift For: Shutter Bugs, Amateur Film Makers, Family Movie Buffs

Wish List Worthy Features:

• The world’s first memory cards to adopt new speed class
• Continuously record (write) large amounts without missing any shots or writing stops 
• Meets requirements of high resolution, consecutive and large HD video shooting 
• Writing speed range of 10MB – 22MB per second for large volume data
• High-speed data transfer from card to PC (approximately 40% faster compared Class 4)
• Five models available: RP-SDW04G (4GB), RP-SDW04G (4GB 2 Pack) / RP-SDW08G (8GB) / RP-SDW16G (16GB) / RP-SDW32G (32GB)

NC-HU301 – 3.0 L Energy Saving Thermo Pot

MSP: $179.99

A Perfect Gift For: Tree Huggers, Tea Lovers, Busy Moms

Wish List Worthy Features:

• Perfect for getting instant oats ready in the morning!
• Healthy tea mode
• Energy efficient design / Rotating body (360º) / LCD display
• Charcoal coated, easy-to-clean, non-stick interior
• Cordless electric pump
• 4-Level dispensing with red floating water level indicator
• Four keep warm temperature selections and overheating protection

DMC-FS6 – LUMIX^® Digital Still Camera (Black, Red, Pink, Blue)

MSP: $169.99

A Perfect Gift For: Nieces and Nephews, Fashionistas and Recessionistas  

Wish List Worthy Features:

• A great first camera for tweens or a companion for the girl-on-the-go this camera is packed with features everyone on the list will love
• 8.1 megapixel / 4x optical zoom / Leica DC VARIO-ELMARIT lens
• 2.5″ Intelligent LCD (230K pixels)
• Intelligent Auto Mode (MEGA O.I.S., Intelligent ISO control, Face Detection, Intelligent Scene Selector), VGA movie mode with audio, Venus engine IV image processor

UNDER $300

NNSD698S – Genius^® Inverter^® Stainless Steel Microwave Oven

MSP: $249.99

A Perfect Gift For: Young Couple, College/University Student, Grandma

Wish List Worthy Features:

• 1.2 cu. ft. / 1200 Watts
• Genius Sensor Reheat/Genius Sensor Cook (9 step)/Inverter^® Turbo Defrost
• New digital dial and Child Safety Lock
• Optional Stainless Steel Trim Kit Available

NEW DMC-ZR1R – LUMIX^® Compact, Super Slim Digital Camera (Red)

MSP: $349.99

A Perfect Gift For: Olympic Games memento collectors, Cutting Edge Gadget Seekers, Mom/Dad-On-The-Go

Wish List Worthy Features:

• Bright red limited edition model features Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games emblem (also available in blue and black)
• Catch every shooting opportunity with this truly pocketable, extremely powerful camera
• World’s First 0.3mm Thin Aspherical Lens offers super-slim design
• Powerful, 25mm Ultra-Wide-Angle
• 8x optical zoom / LEICA DC VARIO-ELMAR lens – also zooms in video recording 
• 12.1-megapixel resolution
• Ultra high-speed Auto Focus (AF) and high-speed start-up (in less than one second)
• 2.7-inch Intelligent LCD
• Powerful battery life with the highly energy-efficient image processing LSI – Venus Engine V – which takes approximately 330 pictures from a single charge
• Intelligent Auto Mode: POWER O.I.S. Hand-Shake Compensation, Face Recognition
• PHOTOfunSTUDIO 4.0 software included (view, edit and archive photos and videos)

SC-HC3 – Micro Stereo System with iPod Dock

MSP: $299.99

A Perfect Gift For: Design Aficionado, Music Lover, iPod Gadgeteer

Wish List Worthy Features:

• Looks good, sounds amazing!
• Amplifier – total output power of 40W (RMS), 4 Preset EQ + Flat
• CD player – multi-CD play function; MP3 playback; MP3 function: ID3 Tag, Album skip, CD-R/RW playback, MASH 1-bit D/A conversion system
• Motorized power sliding door (2-way) for iPod and CD
• Digital synthesizer tuner, preset memory, Auto tuning and fluorescent display
• 6.5cm full range bamboo cone speaker and 2 Passive radiators for a robust bass
• Integrated universal dock for iPod (playback and recharge)
• Energy Star® qualified

DMP-BD60 – Blu-ray Disc™ Player

MSP: $299.99

A Perfect Gift For: Home Theatre Enthusiasts, Hardcore Movie Lovers

Wish List Worthy Features:

• Incredible images, breathtaking lossless audio and stunning surround sound
• Filmmaker’s Vision – PHL Reference Chroma Processor Plus; High precision 4:4:4; P4HD; 1080/24p playback (Blu-ray disc and DVD)
• Dynamic and Pure Sound – Built-in Dolby® TrueHD, Dolby® Digital Plus, DTS™-HD and DTS-Master Audio Essential; 96kHz Surround Remaster for BD, DVD, CD and MP3
• Networking and Connectivity – VIERA Link™, VIERA CAST™; Compatible with BD-Live™ and BONUSVIEW™; Ethernet Terminal for BD-Live™; SD card slot supports AVCHD, MPEG2 & JPEG (HD); USB input supports MP3, JPEG (HD)
• ECO Friendly – Auto power stand-by, Stand-by power save, ENERGY STAR® qualified

NEW ES-LA93K – Pro-Curve® 4-Blade Men’s Shaver

MSP: $399.99

A Perfect Gift For: The Man Who Has Everything, The Man Who Needs Pampering

Wish List Worthy Features:

• Vertically Vibrating Shaving Head squeezes out hidden whiskers for a closer shave
• Multi Flexible Active Head keeps close contact even under the chin
• Equipped with world’s fastest* linear motor to provide quick shaving with no reduction in power even when shaving dense whiskers
• Includes fully automatic charger / cleaner (LA93) that automatically charges, cleans, and dries the shaver·

*As of March 17, 2009 for electric shavers with internal blade reciprocating at approx. 14,000 strokes / min. (Panasonic research)

NEW DMC-FZ35 – LUMIX^® with New POWER O.I.S. and HD Motion Zoom Video Capture 

MSP: $499.99

A Perfect Gift For: New and Advanced Photographers, New Parents, Avid Travellers 

Wish List Worthy Features:

• Looks and functions like a point-and-shoot camera but with advanced features that include HD video recording – a hybrid that shoots high-quality still and motion images
• AVCHD Lite, HD video recording; 27mm wide-angle; 18x optical zoom LEICA DC lens
• Power to shoot HD videos (including motion zoom to take advantage of the 18x zoom)
• Dedicated Video Record Button, making it a true hybrid – capturing both still and motion images – providing smooth operation in either mode
• Creative Movie Mode allows user to set the shutter speed and aperture manually to make even more impressive movies     
• Ultra high-speed Auto Focus (AF)
• Intelligent Auto Mode: Power OIS and Face Recognition
• Manual controls and raw image capture make this camera ideal for photographers who want the most from their camera

SDR-H80 – HDD/SD Hybrid Digital Camcorder (Blue, Black, Red, Silver)

MSP: $499.99

A Perfect Gift For: Casual Videographer (Sports, Family Gatherings, Holiday Recitals)

Wish List Worthy Features:

• Upgrade from a tape or DVD based camcorder with this hybrid digital with 70x Optical zoom, 60GB HDD (hard disk drive) and 2.7” Widescreen LCD
• Intelligent auto mode (Intelligent scene selector, Face detection, Advanced O.I.S.)
• One-touch DVD copy
• VideoCam Suite 2.0 editing software included
• Battery life: 13 hour, 50 minutes

SDR-SW21 – Compact SD/SDHC Digital Camcorder (Orange, Silver, Green)

MSP: $549.99

A Perfect Gift For: The Outdoorsman, Backpacker, Snowboarders, Mountain Bikers

Wish List Worthy Features:

• Slim build, funky colours, functional attributes and key features make this a hit for those on the go and looking to capture every moment
• Waterproof up to 2.0 m / Shockproof up to 1.2 m / Dustproof
• 10x Optical zoom and 2.7” Widescreen LCD
• 0.6 sec quick start

TC-L26X1/TC-L32 X1/TC-L37X1 – VIERA^® LCD X1 HDTVs and iPod^® Playback Entertainment System

MSP: Ranges from $699.99 – $999.99 depending on size  

A Perfect Gift For: Empty Nesters, New Media Enthusiasts

Wish List Worthy Features:

• Welcome to a whole new visual era with these LCD displays designed to deliver exhilarating, true-to-life colour, enhanced sound and advanced networking capabilities
• Available in three screen sizes 26-inch, 32-inch, 37-inch
• VIERA Image Viewer™ with SD Memory Card slot and Game Mode
• iPod Entertainment System
• Select from a drop down menu displaying their music, videos or podcast options 
• The VIERA on-screen music menu mimics the iPod
• Video and podcast features provide a list of available videos or podcasts
• iPod Entertainment Kit is equipped with a full suite of entertainment features 
• HDMI inputs (26” has 2 HDMI Inputs; 32” and 37” have 3 HDMI Inputs)
• VIERA Link™; VIERA Link button offers simplified, single remote operation of connected Panasonic products
• A contrast ratio of 12,000:1 and Panasonic’s IPS LCD Panel
• ENERGY STAR™® qualified

DMP-B15 – Portable Blu-ray Disc^TM Player

MSP: $999.99

A Perfect Gift For: Business Travellers, High Tech Gadget Trendsetters, Blu-ray movie enthusiasts on the go

Wish List Worthy Features:

• Designed to provide the ultimate HD Blu-ray experience you’d expect at home for those on the go, this first-of-its-kind player delivers the highest level image quality available VIERA CAST™ internet accessibility
• BD Live functionality
• HDMI output and PHL Reference Chroma Processor Plus technology developed in collaboration with Panasonic Hollywood Laboratory
• SD card reader
• Movie (AVCHD, MPEG2) and JPEG (HD) view with SD memory card slot
• The UniPhier^® processor lowers power consumption and enables a compact design

TC-L32G1 – VIERA^® LCD G Series 32” HD LCD Television

MSP: $999.99

A Perfect Gift For: The Discerning HD Aficionado Looking to Make a Bold Statement 

Wish List Worthy Features:

• Enhanced features, brighter panel, deeper blacks and Panasonic’s unique IPS Alpha LCD Panel make this award winning TV stand out from the crowd
• 120Hz Motion Picture Pro 3
• Motion Focus Technology
• X.V. Colour
• Intelligent Scene Controller
• 20,000:1 Dynamic contrast ratio
• VIERA Image Viewer™ (JPEG); VIERA Link™
• HDMI input (x3) and PC input
• ENERGY STAR™® qualified

HDC-HS250K – HDD/SD Hybrid Full-HD Camcorder

MSP: $1,199.99

A Perfect Gift For: Zoomers, The Family Videographer, New Parents

Wish List Worthy Features:

• Get professional video performance in a compact, affordable camera
• Record to 120GB HDD or SD/SDHC memory cards / USB Host function
• 2.7” Touch panel LCD
• Full HD 1920 x 1080p resolution at 24fps
• 3MOS Camera system
• HD Advanced colour pure engine
• Leica Dicomar lens / 12x Optical zoom
• Intelligent Auto Mode (Advanced O.I.S., Face Detection, Intelligent Scene Selector & Contrast Control, AE/AF tracking)
• 5.1ch Surround sound with zoom MIC
• Includes HD Writer 3.0 software

NEW SC-BTX70 – Blu-ray Disc™ Cinema System

MSP: $1,299.99

A Perfect Gift For: Style Conscious High-Tech Gear Seekers 

Wish List Worthy Features:

• The one family gift that everyone will love this year is this slim and stylish Blu-ray Disc cinema system which features dynamic picture, sound, ease of use, and is even easy on the environment!

• The SC-BTX70 is a slim 2.1-channel Blu-ray Disc™ home cinema system with a completely new and unique vertical slim design
• Universal Dock allows iPod to be stored inside the main unit even when it is connected
• PHL Chroma Processor Plus; High Precision 4:4:4 provide cinema quality
• VIERA CAST™; BD-Live; SD memory card slot, VIERA Link™
• UniPhier® LSI integrates all video signal processing circuits onto a single chip to reduce power consumption and number of components.

TC-P42S1 / TC-P46S1 / TC-P50S1 / TC-P54S1 / TC-P58S1 / TC-P65S1 – VIERA^® Plasma S1-Series Televisions

MSP: Ranges from $1,499.99 – $4,999.99 depending on size

A Perfect Gift For: The Entire Family 

Wish List Worthy Features:

• This plasma strikes a balance between price and performance with deep black levels, excellent picture quality and an environmentally friendly footprint
• Available in six screen sizes 42-inch, 46-inch, 50-inch, 54-inch, 58-inch, 65-inch
• Neo PDP technology for a brighter panel and double luminance efficiency
• 600 Hz Sub-Field Drive for outstanding image clarity; Full-Time 1080-line moving picture  
• VIERA Image Viewer so dad can check out pictures of the family
• Infinite Black panel with a dynamic contrast ratio of over 2,000,000:1
• Game Mode
• ENERGY STAR™® qualified

NEW DMC-GF1 – LUMIX^® G Micro System Camera

MSP:  $1,099 for kit – includes LUMIX G 20mm/F1.7 ASPH, a compact and lightweight “pancake” lens; $849.99 (body only) 

A Perfect Gift For: Photography lovers in search of a high-performance, light-weight, compact camera 

Wish List Worthy Features:

• World’s smallest and lightest system digital camera with a built-in flash*
• Elegant, compact design reminiscent of classic film cameras
• Professional, amateur and beginner photographers will be stunned by the range of creative possibilities this true hybrid camera provides with easy-to-use level imaging and HD video recording
• New modes allow users to blur background and foreground of HD video and images – something typically only possible with expensive professional cameras
• My Color mode includes seven preset effects – Expressive, Retro, Pure, Elegant, Monochrome, Dynamic Art, Silhouette and Custom, allowing users to manually set colour, brightness and saturation levels     
• Micro Four Thirds Camera System allows additional lenses to be used
• High resolution 3.0-inch Intelligent LCD includes features to help improve visibility in all light environments – from sunny outdoors to low-light interior settings
• Camera body can be used with any Micro-four thirds lenses as well as with Leica “M” and Leica “R” lenses when using an adapter 

* As of September 2, 2009

EP-MA50T – Real Pro™ Total Body Massage Chair
MSP: $5,999.99

A Perfect Gift For: Spa Owners and Aestheticians, Luxury Seekers, Back Sufferers

Wish List Worthy Features:

• “JUNETSU” (a Panasonic exclusive) ultra fine kneading
• Soothing grasp and closed fist massage for neck and shoulders
• Pre-programmed massages – Swedish, Deep, Shiatsu – and speed variation
• Hip lifting and twisting function
• Acupoint stimulation (approx. 350) and reflexology for feet
• Body scan technology
• 170° auto recline
• High quality synthetic leather
• Endorsed by the ACA*

* Panasonic is the first company to be endorsed by the American Chiropractic Association for massage chairs

TC-P54Z1 – VIERA^® Z series, 54” 1080p Full-HD Plasma

MSP: $6,999.99

A Perfect Gift For: Those Seeking The Ultimate In Plasma Technology, Design And Style

Wish List Worthy Features:

• The flagship VIERA plasma with a revolutionary one inch thin panel design and Wireless HD connectivity to deliver the ultimate sleek, uncluttered HDTV viewing experience
• Ultra-thin 1″ slim design is without equal and makes a bold statement
• WirelessHD™ 1080p technology
• THX® Certified Display
• NeoPDP technology
• Infinite Black; Deep Colour™; x.v. Colour
• VIERA CAST™, VIERA Image Viewer™ and VIERA Link™
• HDMI input (x4), PC Input
• BBE® ViVA HD3D™ Sound
• Mercury and lead free panel, long life panel and ENERGY STAR® qualified

(The Berlin Wall, December 1985.  Photo by Eric Jacksch)

Twenty years ago today the Berlin Wall fell, uniting East and West Germany. Celebrations today include fireworks, concerts, and the toppling of foam dominoes painted by school children. Spiegel Online International has a great collection of historic images and coverage of the 20th anniversary celebration.  They also have published their interview with Lieutenant-Colonel Harald Jäger, The Guard Who Opened the Berlin Wall (in English).