techTIMMY.net - Technology Blog

Wanna read your Amazon Kindle in the shower?

2010-01-06T08:41:00.003-06:00

Well now you can, thanks to the recently announced Guardian Case by M-Edge. Do out in the Spring of 2010, the handy case not only makes your Kindle waterproof to one (1) meter, but it also makes it float. You can even read it while in the bath tub.

"Three internal buoyancy chambers provide distributed flotation to keep Kindle afloat and upright for in-water reading."

Have they gone to far? You can be the judge. However, I was talking with someone just last week about not being able to take my kindle to read by the pool for fear of a slip/dip.

Skiff Reader: Largest, Thinnest eReader to date!

2010-01-04T14:18:00.006-06:00

2010 is likely to be an even bigger year for technology than 2009. With new product announcements from many major technology players (i.e. Apple) planned for the first part of the year, tech heads are all salivating with excitement.

Enter the Skiff Reader to get the year started with a bang! Skiff promises to bring the eReader market the largest, yet thinnest eReader to date. They have also partnered with Sprint, not only for wireless 3G service, but also for distribution from some +1000 Sprint stores.

All in all, the eReader world could be getting more exciting. This kind of screen combined with 3G speeds lends itself to all kinds of newspaper and magazine deals that include live updating advertising. Will consumers back away from their computer screens and go back to "paying" for news content? I guess only time will tell. For now the Skiff Reader looks to be at least one very cool device.

Check the features from Skiff:

"The Skiff Reader, the first e-reader to integrate the upcoming Skiff Service, is a state-of-the-art device that is simple and easy-to-use. Our innovations include:

Largest e-paper display › More viewing area for a richer reading experience.

Thinnest e-reading device › Remarkably sleek. Easy to hold, use and carry.

Most durable e-reader › First-of-its-kind metal-foil display (eliminating the fragility of glass). A magnesium housing. An incredibly sturdy device.

Highest display resolution › Four times as many pixels as most e-book readers, for more immersive reading.

Full touch screen › For intuitive content selection and navigation. Instant page turns with the swipe of a finger.

Extraordinary battery life › Read for a week between charges."

Check out the device:

Business and Technology Recap for the last 10 years.

2009-12-22T11:32:00.000-06:00

Here is a video from WatchMojo about the past 10 years for technology and business. Not only does it bring to light some time-lines for a few major technology milestones, but it also reminds us of a few Billion dollar numbers that happened over the last decade as well. It all sounds crazy when you look back at the last decade!

Check it:

Houston based SnapStream will automate The Daily Show and The Colbert Report

2009-12-21T11:15:00.001-06:00

Do you have the need to record 30 simultaneous TV streams and be able to search within them? The folks at the Daily Show and the Colbert Report definitely have a need to record a huge amount of television, and now they will be able to do it with a single appliance. Anyone who has seen either of the hugely popular shows from the Comedy Central network, will recall them spoofing other TV broadcast on many occasions. Now with the help of SnapStream, they will be able to do it with maximum efficiency.

SnapStream describes their product as "a cross between a DVR and a search engine"

Check out the full story from the Houston Chronicle. Exciting news for SnapStream and Houston, TX.

Big money for iPhone developer start-up

2009-12-21T11:00:00.001-06:00

iPhone start up Tapulous says its sales have grown to almost $1,000,000/Month for iPhone application sales. Apparently a lot of iPhone users are tap tapping away. Tapulous credits there revenues to application sales, ad revenues, and direct downloads of songs. Anyone know an iPhone developer?

Check out the full article at Reuters.

Will iPhone be available on Verizon next year?

2009-11-23T11:54:00.001-06:00

Brian Marshall seems to think so. In this clip from Bloomberg, Brian talks about the exclusive agreement with AT&T ending in "June of 2010." The big question for me is, what does this mean for the consumer base? If you could get the iPhone on any network, which one would you choose? In Australia there is no exclusive carrier. So consumers are free to pick which carrier has the best pricing and coverage, rather than looking at who carries the phone they desire. In addition to the discussion about iPhone, it was great to here about Apple's successes on the computer space. As an Apple fan, I am excited to hear about their 5% market share growing. Looks like the only place to go from here is up.

Check it:

Sprint HTC Hero Firmware update now available via OTA.

2009-11-20T16:15:00.001-06:00

Sprint HTC Hero users, your update is ready. For the most part, my Sprint HTC Hero has been a pretty good device. I must say the battery life and SMS complaints that I heard about didn't seem to affect me a great deal. That said, updates are generally always better and include many things that aren't specifically listed in the update list.

Here is the official quote from HTC:
Special Update!

Software Upgrade Available for HTC Hero™

A new software upgrade has started to push down to HTC Hero™ Customers. The software upgrade will continue to be done automatically over the next few days through an over-the-air update and will include several enhancements addressing some of the following issues:

- Daylight Savings Time

- Text Messaging

- Bluetooth Issues

- 3.5 MM Headset Jack

- Battery Life

Check out the Sprint Communities site for more details and user feedback.

Are you tired of flipping back and forth between Facebook and Twitter?

2009-11-20T15:49:00.003-06:00

Are you tired of constantly flipping back and forth between browser windows? If you are like me, you're always flipping to your facebook tab, then flipping to your twitter tab. Well the folks at Qwisk have a new site that allows most of this to stop. They do this by loading a side bar in your window for Facebook, Twitter, and Google feeds. In the video you can see this work, and other than given you a smaller viewing area, the idea seems to be pretty cool. Ill have to give you a better idea when they send me my beta account login. However, you could always beat me to the punch an sign up for a beta account of your own.

Check it:

Google Chrome OS: Google taking over the world...again.

2009-11-20T15:24:00.001-06:00

Think about this for a minute. What do you use your computer for? Your answer is probably the same as most of us. Something like internet, pictures, email, facebook, and maybe the occasional document. Google is proposing that all this can happen in your browser and there is no longer a need for a Windows or Apple operating system. I gotta say, I kind of agree with them. With the exception of Photoshop and Final Cut Pro, most of what I do on my computer is in the browser. This is especially true in the netbook space, where most people don't even use them for music and photos, because that's what there "real" computer is for. So I think Google is onto something with this whole Google Chrome OS aka browser as an operating system. Still not sure what I'm talking about? Take a look at the video from the Google Chrome team.

Check it:

Nook by Barnes & Noble: Sorry Kindle

2009-11-13T12:03:00.000-06:00

Check out this video of the new "Nook" from Barnes and Noble. I must say I thought the Amazon Kindle had everything. However, after reading the details about the Nook, I am thinking this is better. Obviously its all depends on user interaction with the device but below I have listed some of the features the Nook will have that the Kindle is currently without.

Nook features lacking on the Kindle:
1.) Color Touch Screen - 3.5" TFT Color LCD (bottom of device, not the primary screen)
2.) Touch Control & Navigation (bottom of device, not the primary screen)
3.) Quick Library View by Book Cover (in color, bottom of device, not the primary screen)
4.) Wi-Fi/802.11b/g with free wifi in all Barnes and Noble stores.
5.) Memory expansion via microSD slot.
6.) More than a million titles available.
7.) More than 500,000 free eBooks.
8.) Directly load & read PDFs.
9.) Read/Sync from multiple devices (iPhone™, iPod touch®, BlackBerry®, PC, Mac OS®)
10.) Synchronized notes/annotations between devices
11.) Lend eBooks to friends.
12.) Android OS
13.) Personalize screensavers with your photos
14.) Replaceable battery

All in all it seems to be at least very comparable to the Kindle2 and shows a lot of promise to be even better.

Check it:

Wanna know why Apple is designed so well?

2009-11-10T14:40:00.011-06:00

Here is a video clip from "Objectified" an industrial design documentary. In the clip, Jonathan Ive, Apple's chief designer, discusses the thoughts and details that go into making a few Apple products. You can really tell the passion and thought that is put into every aspect of what they sell. Even as I type this blog entry on my Mac book Pro, I can feel and see the difference in engineering over my Dell laptop. If you have never experienced an Apple product, go on down to the Apple store in a mall near you.

Check it:

ideum's 100 inch multi-touch table

2009-10-31T16:34:00.000-05:00

Take that Microsoft. Not only is this table 100 inches, but it also supports up to 50 simultaneous touches. That means 25 people could all be launching, zooming, and enjoying all sorts of information. Anywhere from photos to music or browsing.

check it:

techTIMMY reviews the Apple Magic Mouse

2009-10-29T21:19:00.003-05:00

Here is my video review/unboxing on Apple's new magic mouse. As with most things Apple, this mouse is very well out together. The features are all game changes and its not bad a a point and click device either.

Check it:

Is this the face of computers to come?

2009-10-29T13:32:00.000-05:00

I sure hope not. I must say I can't see laptops getting much more beautiful than my mac book pro. However, I can see some very practical applications for a computer with a projection display and keyboard. The part about putting the unit in your pocket seems very cool. I think we are more likely to see projection screens and keyboards to come on mobile phones before laptops because the user experience will be about the same. I could definitely see myself projecting a YouTube video or other movie from my mobile phone onto the wall of my office cubicle. Wait a minute, that gives me an idea...

Check it:

Google's History in Video!

2009-10-26T13:53:00.000-05:00

This You Tube(owned by Google) video is proof that Google will, one day, take over the world. I use almost every Google service in someway, shape, or form. Not a single days goes by, that I don't log into some gmail service to do something on the web. I use blogger to make this blog. I use gmail for email, calendar, documents, and contact management. Ad sense and Google analytics help me keep everything about techTIMMY in perspective.

Check it:

techTIMMY Makes the Palm Pre Better!

2009-10-22T18:51:00.001-05:00

Here is a video I put together of the best tweaks, mods, and applications for the Palm Pre. Anyone who is currently using the Pre, and doesn't use most of these changes, is just not using the device to the best of its abilities. Thanks to the people at Pre Central for putting together a great description on how to get this accomplished.

check it:

New Verizon Campaign goes after iPhone.

2009-10-18T15:40:00.002-05:00

Will android surpase iPhone as the mobile phone operating system of choice by 2012? I guess we will just have to wait and see. However, you gotta love it when a company, even if it is Verizon, goes right after the top spot.

Check it:

techTIMMY.net Unboxing: Apple's 15" Macbook Pro

2009-10-16T10:56:00.002-05:00

After a very long waiting period, I finally got a 15" Macbook Pro and I wanted to show you an unboxing. Apple's packaging has always been a step above the rest and this unit was no exception. I am always impressed by Apple products overall fit and finish.

Check it:

Blackberry Storm 2 Video

2009-10-15T11:02:00.000-05:00

Here is a nice overview video from Blackberry on the Storm 2. At this point it is pretty hard to deny this device is official. As a fan of Blackberry, I just hope to see it on other carriers. The idea around a touch screen Blackberry really is a good one and the Storm 2 seems to be slimmer and sleeker. For the business user, there really is no alternative to the efficiency of a Blackberry. However, a touch screen one can just be a little more fun.

Check it:

Amazon Announces Cheaper Kindle and New International Model

2009-10-08T11:44:00.000-05:00

In a letter to all those who visit the Amazon home page, founder Jeff Bezon announced and price drop in the Amazon Kindle to $259. He also gave details about a new U.S./International version available for $279. Now all the people who are looking to download books "across the pond" will have the ability to do so. At $279, you still get away for $20 cheaper than the previous model.

International coverage was really the Kindle's only major downfall. I can't think of a reason why anyone would rather worry about wifi or connecting to a computer.

Cheaper and new features in a very "Apple" thing to do and I love it.

Weekly Funny: SNL Short throws Blackberry on the Ground

2009-10-05T11:31:00.000-05:00

Adam is hilarious and I love the blackberry nod. You have to at least watch this until 1:30 into the short.

Check it:

Moms and Dads This is what you've been waiting for: Gyrowheel

2009-10-05T11:22:00.000-05:00

I as a dad that had the fantastic duty of teaching my three year-old how to ride his bike this summer. It went very well, but the transition from training wheels seemed to be the big "mental" hurdle. I am sure it would have gone even better, had we been in possession of a Gyrowheel. What a concept.

Check it:

Blackberry Desktop Manager for Mac's Available October 2nd.

2009-09-30T08:47:00.001-05:00

The long awaited release of Blackberry's Desktop Manager for Mac will finally be here this Friday October 2nd. As proven in a recent article in Fortune Magazine, Blackberry is still the leader in corporate devices, even among mac users. This is especially true in the self employed space where users own Macs but carry a Blackberry for its image of "business swagger." Thankfully these individual no longer have to wait. If I am honest, PocketMac wasn't all bad because it certainly let me sync contacts. However, desktop manager is going to be even better because it should allow for tethering for internet sharing. Enjoy...

A Must Watch Video About Social Media...The World is a changing

2009-09-29T12:55:00.000-05:00

I have been saying many of these things for a long time now. So, what does this mean for us? I happen to think the worlds most powerful companies will be the ones that will take their products and services off the shelves and into the cloud. But what do I know? I am just a tech head!

Check it:

Getting Fat: Theres an app for that!

2009-09-23T11:10:00.001-05:00

Pizza hut has created an application for all you not yet greasy fingered iPhone users out there. Someone please email me when you have downloaded the app and ordered a pizza. Better yet, invite me over for some pepperoni and cheese. BTW, apparently you get 20% off if you use the app.

Check it: