A New Way To Resolution

Jessie Atkin posted a new blog up on Digital Landing! Read about the new way to motivate those whose resolutions are to lose weight.

It’s almost 2009 and that means it’s new year’s resolutions time. Every year lots of people swear they’ll exercise more, at least now we have new tools to achieve that. (Even is you’re afraid of the video games and against “fake” exercise whether or not it works). That no longer means technology can’t help you.

Sega (yes it is a toy company) will soon be sending help for those less motivated outdoors types. The FiTrainer is a set of headphones with a built in motivational speaker (that’s the idea anyway). It comes with three exercise modes and looks exactly like a pair of headphones. The best part is that, at the very least, you won’t look like more of an idiot speed walking down the street.

Are you too old to hear it?

Chris McGinn posted a new blog up on Digital Landing! Read about the ringtone that teens can hear and older folks cannot.

Do you know what Teen Buzz is? If you don’t, you are probably an old geezer like me. It’s a high-pitched frequency ring tone used by teens to receive messages when they don’t want to alert their parents or teachers.

Dubbed The Mosquito because it is similar to the buzz of the insect, the frequency (approximately 17.4 kHz at 85dB) was used by shop keepers in the UK and elsewhere to keep teenagers out of their stores. Now the teens have turned the tables, to use it for their own power.

As we age, our hearing sensitivity to certain frequencies diminishes. There are sounds you can hear at 20 that you simply can’t hear at 40. I downloaded the ringtone and was actually able to hear it (I’m 32) but I think it would be very hard to hear in a busy classroom. My husband (who is only 33) wasn’t able to hear it, but he works with power tools all the time so his hearing is shoddy anyway.

Float On

Jessie Atkin posted a new blog up on Digital Landing! Read about NASA's missing rubber ducks, and how you can thicken your wallet.

NASA is asking for the public’s help in their newest experiment. They are looking for rubber ducks.

That’s right, NASA is searching for rubber ducks, specifically 90 that escaped from them this year. In an attempt to measure the effects of global warming and glacier movement. NASA put 90 ducks in a hole in the ice up in Greenland to see how fast the ice would melt. Now, three months later, the ducks are gone.

Supposedly $100 awaits anyone who finds and returns one of the ducks but I think if I found one I might be inclined to keep it.

Interstellar Marketplace

Jessie Atkin posted a new blog up on Digital Landing. Read about the latest news updates in the space realm.

Space, space, space, space. Problems abound and development continues, there is never a lack of news. Even in this economic climate you can always count on interest in the last frontier whether or not anyone can actually pay for it.

In recent news Virgin Galactic’s spaceport has gotten the green light to begin construction in New Mexico. The concept art is pretty fantastic, better than any airport I’ve seen.

In other news NASA is considering selling its shuttles (Discovery, Atlantis, and Endeavor) when they are decommissioned. For a mere 42 million dollars part of space history can be yours. I’d love one, it’s be a heck of a club house. I doubt I can afford it.

Deck the Halls

Jessie Atkin posted a blog up on Digital Landing! Read about how you can make a gingerbread house, one you can't eat.

It’s almost Christmas and the holiday season is in full swing. Gingerbread houses are a winter holiday tradition. But just as toy fads and fashion change, so too has the art of gingerbread architecture changed.

This year it’s not just about gum drops and snow covered roofs, but motherboards and Star Wars. In this new age of gingerbread anything’s possible, even a gingerbread man with LED eyes. From star destroyers, to laptops, to mansions with working lights, gingerbread isn’t just a kids activity anymore.

Track Santa with your cell phone

Chris McGinn posted a blog up on Digital Landing! Read about how you can track Santa, on your cell.

If you aren’t going to be in front of your computer tonight, but still want to keep tabs on the big guy in the red suit, you can track Santa with your cell phone thanks to NORAD

For more than 50 years, NORAD has been the go-to source for mapping Santa’s journey across the earth on Christmas Eve. In the distant past, volunteers actually answered phone calls from children to help them locate Santa. Now you can go online and follow his path in 3D.

You can also use Google Maps for Mobile on supported phones (iPhone, T-Mobile G1, BlackBerry, Windows Mobile, or Nokia phone with Google Maps) to search for “norad santa” to see Santa’s location.

Enjoy and Merry Christmas from my family to yours!

Wii-itis

Chris McGinn posted a blog on Digital Landing. Read about the injuries people are getting because of the Nintendo Wii gaming system.

Achey knees, sore wrists and tennis elbow. No, it’s not the lunch conversation at grandma’s house–it’s what doctors are calling “wii-itis.”

Doctors in Britain say that 10 people a week are hospitalized with injuries caused by playing Nintendo Wii games. That’s just crazy.

I presume that often these injuries are the result of people who aren’t used to being physically active over-doing it. The article also says that sudden movements in games where participants play tennis or run are also to blame.

One malady dubbed “Wii-knee” is blamed on the bending of the knee in the Wii-Fit game. I wonder if this is just a case of poor design or poor athletic conditioning. Treatment for the condition includes months of shots and therapy.

I applaud Nintendo for getting people off the couch to play but perhaps there should be some additional warning about not overdoing it. I wouldn’t want to explain that one to my insurance company.

Play safe!

Build Up the Music

Jessie Atkin posted a blog up on Digital Landing. Read about a portable speaker for your ipod that doesn't need batteries to run.

Some things are just sweet and timeless. Lets take for example the Lego. I love Lego’s, seriously, I hate the fact that now I’m “too old” to request any as holiday gifts. But, in a sense, that’s about to change.

The ipod Retro Mini Speaker is cute as a button, and travel size too. It’s probably one of the best ipod accessories I’ve set eyes on in awhile. It looks just like the classic building toy but is much more mature and age appropriate as a mini speaker for your ipod. Basically it’s a lego type brick that plugs into the USB port at the ipod’s base and even works to help the average ipod stand upright (if you so desire). Red, blue, yellow, green, white, black, or pink, the options are endless. You can clash or match the speaker with your player or, at under $20, you can buy more than one to mix and match.

No batteries are required as the speaker runs off the ipod’s own power source. I can’t attest to the speakers sound quality, but what it lacks in bass it makes up for in style.

The Festival of Lights

Jessie Atkin posted a blog up on Digital Landing. Read about the electronic menorah for people who prefer not to use candlelight.

So it’s that time of year again (although according to television and those carols on the radio its been that time of year since October). The truth is, it’s the holiday season, for reals this time, and there’s no way out. Hanukkah began last night at sundown and Christmas is still on its way.

I’m not going to talk about the best techie gifts just now, plenty of people already do that. I just wanted to point out one cool little gizmo I found laying about the internet, The LED motherboard menorah. It’s exactly what it sounds like people.

Why would you want one? Well, there’s been a market out for light bulb menorahs, and velcro menorahs for years, how about an update? I like it. And for those of us living dorms where open flames are not really permissible this holiday season, this seems like a cool little consolation prize.

Wi-Fly

Chris McGinn posted a blog on Digital Landing. Read about how you can search for places with wi-fi for you to use.

Are you traveling this holiday? Be sure to check out this site to find out which airports have free wi-fi for travelers. When you are on the go and especially if you have long layovers, you’ll love having the freedom to use your wi-fi. Also, if you are still looking for some good gift ideas, remember to check out our Wi-Fi gadget ideas.

Found via Real Simple’s awesome holiday blogathon.

Naturally Speaking

Chris McGinn posted a blog on Digital Landing. Read about the way to make keyboards a thing of the past, and vocals all you need.

I’m intrigued. It’s like something out of a sci-fi movie–software that really lets you tell your computer what to do with no typing required.

Dragon’s Naturally Speaking software promises just that–surf the web, dictate and edit in Word (and more) , IM, and more.

The software says it can let you create documents and emails up to three times faster than most people type and with 99 percent accuracy. If you are a slow typer or just have your hands full (hello, moms!)–this could be a life saver. You can even use a Bluetooth microphone so you don’t have to be “wired” to the computer. You can also use an approved digital recorder to make notes when you are away from the computer and automatically synch to it.

They have several software versions with additional options such as standard, preferred, and professional, which includes additional security measures and enterprise capabilities.

I’ve heard of simlar software in the past, but it seemed like the technology was a little spotty. Now maybe they have been able to make the necessary gains to make this really usable. As with any software, be sure to read reviews to see if it is a good fit for you. Between this and touchscreens, typing may soon be a skill of the past.

Cozi adds new features

Chris McGinn posted a new blog up on Digital Landing. Read about Cozi, the online planner that's quite useful for family planning.

In September I highlighted Cozi–an online planner for families on the go. They have recently added a few new features.

• printable grocery coupons
• mobile access
• add your family calendar to your Google Desktop

With the new year just around the bend, now might be a good time to start using it to keep everyone’s schedules in sync and more.

Technological Alliance

Jessie Atkin posted a new blog up on Digital Landing. Read about Seadragon, the first offspring of the joining of Microsoft and Apple.

Microsoft has finally caved to the dark side (or seen the light, depending on how you look at it).

Seadragon mobile is the first (of hopefully many) Microsoft iphone applications. (When did you ever think you’d hear that combination. It’s a super zoom abled image browser in case you’re wondering what Seadragon does. To me it doesn’t really matter that apps purpose, just the fact that it exists.

Imagine the possibilities of Apple and Microsoft together? What other unimaginable alliances can you see aiding the world?

Never Miss a Smile

Chris McGinn posted a blog up on Digital Landing. Read about the camera that snaps the shot when your teeth show.

We finally took our holiday photo this weekend. It turned out cute despite ending in tears and a few drops of blood when my littlest took a header off the bench he was sitting on with his brother while I snapped away with my camera. Ah, holiday memories . . .

Sony has a new camera technology to make sure you never miss the smile when you take pictures. The Cybershot’s Smile Shutter feature actually recognizes the human smile to click at the precise moment a grin appears. It’s really pretty neat stuff.

The feature lets you set the sensitivity so you are sure to get just what you are looking for. You can also turn the feature off since not all pictures have to have smiling subjects.

Here is a video showing it in action.

For other great holiday tech gift ideas, check out our wi-fi gift guide.

5 Minutes Peace

Jessie Atkin posted a blog up on Digital Landing! Read about a relaxation center built for college students at the University of Hertfordshire.

We’ve passed the mid point in the college year so I know that we college students could use a little more downtime and relaxation in our lives (odds are most people could). The problem is often time, but in the shared living space of a dorm space itself too becomes a problem.

Professors at the University of Hertfordshire however have worked out what they believe to be the most relaxing room in the world. With soft matting, lavender scented pillows, glade inspired green light, a specially soothing soundtrack, and an artificial blue sky it doesn’t sound half bad.

Not all of us are lucky enough to be able to go test out such a space, but the concept is promising. Imagine if all student centers had a relaxation room? Perhaps campus stress would decrease, it wouldn’t hurt. The only problem would be over crowding when it cam down to finals time.

Cute Technology

Jessie Atkin posted a blog up on Digital Landing. Read about the all new chumby, a cute animal that doubles as an alarm clock.

Have you ever wished for an internet pillow? A stuffed animal that streems music? Or a fun widget screener away from the computer? Maybe not, but that doesn’t make those capabilities any less fun.

That’s where the chumby comes in. The chumby is exactly what is sounds like, cute. It’s like an alarm clock posing as a pillow. It comes with a full color screen on one side, USB ports and charger opposite, and a squishy sort of fabric cover the rest of the way around.

The chumby is about the size of an average alarm clock and offers an alarm just like its predecesor, except this time you can wake up to music, podcasts, or even music videos. For more fun you can even access widgets from your chumby including facebook, twitter, and now pandora radio.

Pandora is chumby’s newest feature, and a nice one I’d say. You no longer need to worry about waking up to a commercial or setting up a playlist, pandora takes care of it for you.

The chumby is cute, and is always adding features. If only the price would drop everyone would be happy.

Holiday Card Slacker

Chris McGinn posted a blog up on Digital Landing. Read about the electronic way to send holiday cards.

Every year I love getting photo cards from friends around the country showing their families as they grow. Usually, I am ready to go with my own photo that I usually print at Sam’s Club. This year, however, I have been very slack. I’m hoping to still get something out before it is too late, but the clock is definitely ticking.

For those of you who don’t like the photo card route, or who just want to take the whole thing digital, you might be interested in a You Tube greeting card that I found via Lifehacker.

You can pick a video or record your own and add it to a background with a message and email it to up to 25 friends via You Tube.

Another favorite is Elfyourself from OfficeMax and JibJab. Create a stunningly hilarious elf-version of yourself or even your whole family dancing disco, The Charleston, country or classic and send to friends or embed on your blog or Facebook or whatever else you want. This year you can also download the file to save for posterity for just $4.99.

A Snow Improvment

Jessie Atkin posted a new blog up on Digital Landing. Read about the new device that will make you the MVP in snowball fights.

Lets be honest, its started to snow (in most places that get snow anyway) and it is time for outdoor winter activities. No, I’m not talking about skiing, or snowboarding (I don’t even get snow shoeing) I’m not even referring specifically to sledding, I’m thinking more snowball fights.

It’s difficult enough to pack a correct projectile (not any simple powder will work) add to that the awkwardness of gloves and the sensibility of fingers, and snowball fights become an all out battle of endurance and perseverance. Technology helps in all other areas of our lives, why not in the winter wonderland? (Especially in time for the holidays)

That’s where the Snowball Launcher comes in. It’s exactly what it sounds like. This particular advancement to extreme winter sports can shoot snowballs up to 50 feet (no mere athletic skill can give you the upper hand anymore) . Add to that the fact the launcher will pack snowballs for you (3 at a time) and it’s like a dream come true. See who doesn’t want you on their team now

Sexting?

Chris McGinn posted a blog on Digital Landing! Read about the statistics of teenage girls who send nude or semi-nude pictures electronically, and how to prevent it.

The Today Show this morning had a shocking and sobering story on teens tech use and the sending of nude or semi-nude photos of themselves electronically.

According to the results of a survey released today by the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy and CosmoGirl.com, 22 percent of all teen girls — and 11 percent of teen girls ages 13-16 years old — say they have electronically sent, or posted online, nude or semi-nude images of themselves.

Teens seem to be unaware or unconcerned of the consequences of sending these images as they can be passed along and posted online without any permission or security.

Another survey reported:

The online survey of 1,280 teens and young adults — done by TRU, a company that conducts research on teens and 20-somethings — indicates that 15 percent of teens who have sent sexually suggestive content such as text messages, e-mail, photographs or video say they have done so with someone they only know online.

The Today Show story suggested talking with your kids about what they are doing in cyberspace, know who they are talking to online, set limitations on their electronic communications, and set expectations about what is and what is not appropriate online.

It’s a brave new world. Stay on top of technology trends so you can be a better, more informed parent.

Protect your child online with Mee

Chris McGinn posted a blog up on Digital Landing. Read about how to protect your child online with a new program called Mee.

The Mee is a new generation of parental control for your child’s computer use. It lets mom and dad have more ability to control what kids can access as well as more information about what your child is doing online including screenshots and keyboard monitoring.

More and more parents want help keeping their children safe online and companies are meeting the need. As cyber-crime increases and children are exposed to the Internet at younger ages, parents are seeking help in creating safe, age-appropriate environments for their children online. Recently, I posted about a few web-based options.

Designed for kids ages 4-17, the Mee is installed via flash drive to your computer. The child can also take the flash drive for use on any computer so parents can keep up with them, wherever they may be.

When installed, the Mee creates an age-specific environment for children and teens to use to navigate their computers including their photographs, approved applications and websites. Parents can set restrictions on specific web sites, block certain words or personal information from being typed or received, and set time limits.

Parents can get alerts via email or mobile phone when your child attempts to navigate to a blocked site, types inappropriate words, or recieves unsolicited content. The Mee also sends parents alerts regarding FDA and toy recalls, weather emergencies and sex offenders locations in your area.

Whether you employ a website or a device like Mee, the need remains to monitor your children in age-appropriate way as you teach them safe and useful practices for the web. How do you keep your kids safe online?

New Snapshots

Jessie Atkin posted a blog up on Digital Landing. Read about the digital camera that prints on the go, without ink!

In this digital age we’re all about instant gratification, so it makes sense that, like the Polaroid before it, instant photos on the go are making a comeback in the Tomy camera. It comes at an especially important time as Polaroid film begins to disappear from shelves everywhere.

Introduced through Zink, the company that makes “zero ink printers” the Tomy is a digital camera with printer attached. Print little mini photos on the go as you go where ever you go. There is the question of print quality, but part of the fun of polaroids was there unique lack of quality. I’m keen on an updated digital idea, and the pictures make the cameras look really cute too.

To Blu-Ray or not to Blu-Ray

Chris McGinn posted a blog up on Digital Landing. Learn about Blu-Ray and the impact it's having on our DVD buying today.

I love the latest technology trends, but my budget is usually a few years behind. Case in point–Blu-ray. I would love to buy one this holiday, but I know the price will go down. Currently they run about $300+ although some makers already dip into the $200s.

One of my earliest money memories is of my parents buying their first VCR. It was about 1985 and it cost $700. It was fancy. It had stereo sound and special features for the nascent technology. Now, of course you can get a VCR for about $30.

Blu-ray, however, is smart. It has already beaten out its competitor HD DVD to be the next generation format of choice. Sony, who lost the Beta vs. VHS war, made its stand with Blu-ray and won out.

New movies are being released in Blu-Ray format and my neighborhood video store has an ever-growing wall of Blu-ray discs. Also, unlike DVD players vs. VHS, the new Blu-rays can play my current library of DVDs.

Now the real question in my family is do I invest in Disney Blu-Ray DVDs like the new release Sleeping Beauty or stick to the traditional DVDs. I know I am going to have them for years to come, and I really don’t want to have to replace them all a few years down the road.

I guess I may be checking out those Blu-rays sooner than I thought.

Muppet Magic

Jessie Atkin posted a blog up on Digital Landing. Read about how you can create your own muppet online.

I grew up on Sesame Street (the show not the place) and I have yet to meet anyone who doesn’t like Kermit the Frog. Lets be honest muppets are a part of everyone’s life whether we want to admit it or not. Well now they can become a real member of the family, and you get to design who you want to join you around the kitchen table.

FAO Schwarz now has the Whatnot Muppet Workshop where you can pick a body, eyes, hair, nose, and outfit for your own personal muppet. It’s all online! Think of the holiday possibilities! Muppets have never been just any old puppet and at last it seems we the young at heart can do our childhood stories justice with the real thing.

At $90 each they’re a bit expensive, but so are a lot of things at FAO Schwarz. What price can you put on childhood dreams anyway? It’s the holiday season, splurge.

A Secret Diary

Chris McGinn posted a blog up on Digital Landing. Read about the all new diary for girls, in the form of a USB.

When I was a little girl I had the diary with the lock that was supposed to keep my secret hopes and dreams safe. Meet the new, teched-out version– Take’s Secret Diary USB flash drive designed for teens.

The small drive has a key-pad for entering your personalized 3 to 10 digit PIN-number. Encrypted with hack-proof software, what you write is for your eyes only. If you worry about forgetting your PIN, they have PIN replacement assistance and a Never-Lost backup subscription that retains your diary entries in case of loss or theft.

This drive is geared toward girls with fun games and widgets such as a Fortune Cookie feature, rate everything from boys to movies to restaurants with My Stars, and analyze your dreams with Dream Catcher. Not sure what to write, try Thinking Deep to point you in the write direction. There’s even a Mood Art feature that analyzes your words and adds appropriate “mood” colors to your page.

You can personalize entries with a variety of backgrounds, colors and text styles. You can also include your own photos and add drawings (ala Perez Hilton)

It sells for $59.95 via Amazon.

Security Contradictions

Jessie Atkin posted a blog up on Digital Landing. Read to learn about the previously virus-free Mac.

Macs are supposed to be the safest computers anywhere, the myth goes that viruses can’t touch Macs. Today it seems like that might have changed.

Its been recently reported that the Mac Support section on apple.com now lists anti virus software as a suggestion to secure your computer. This is a very new development (and it doesn’t inspire a lot of confidence). Are Macs losing their touch?

I have yet to decide if the dollar for dollar investment is worth buying extra virus protection for my computer, especially when in store advice doesn’t always match that posted online. It can’t hurt anything but your wallet, but is it really necessary?

Advertisement to Go

Jessie Atkin posted a blog on Digital Landing. Read about the latest advance in the advertising world.

Billboards are so last week, lets bring television commercial style to the stagnant style of city advertising. That’s just the idea behind a new evolution in New York City Busing.

The buses won’t only come equipped with the equivalent of a side style television screen but a GPS system as well, ads will then specify themselves depending on the neighborhood and time of day.

It’s quite an idea in the advertising world, and I won’t say it’s not going to work, it probably will. What I do have to say is it’s getting creepy how far into my head advertising is beginning to penetrate.

When It’s Not Hands Free

Jessie Atkin posted a blog on Digital Landing! Read about a new pair of gloves that make touch screen electronics easy to use, no matter how cold it is.

Well, it’s that time of year again, winter’s here and so is the cold. Well, just as the technical world continues to expand so do those related items that help us deal with them.

Case and point; Dots Gloves. Nothing is more important to a gadget connoisseur than convenience, and these gloves provide just that. The gloves are simply that, gloves, with one new feature, a small metal dot at the fingertip to make iPod, iPhone and all touch screen use in the biting wind more convenient.

Now, I don’t own an iPhone yet, but I’m all for warmth and convenience when the icy winds head my way. At $15 a pair, depending on how outdoorsy you plan to be, the investment could be worth it this gift giving season.

Holiday Tech–Digital Photo Ornaments

Chris McGinn posted a blog on Digital Landing! Read about a new digital ornament for your Christmas tree or Hanukkah bush.

I love this idea–digital photo ornaments that play a slideshow of up to 50 (8MB) worth of photos. While I’m not sure they will last as long as your favorite traditional photo ornament, it is a clever way to share your favorite pics from the year with family or on your own tree.

Amazon lists several options that are on sale for the holidays (about $20). Photos are easily downloaded from your computer to the ornament’s 1 1/2″ LED screen. You can then view photos individually or as a slideshow. Maybe start a tradition of adding a new ornament to the tree each year with your favorite photos from throughout the year.

Holiday Tech Week–Christmas Light Control

Chris McGinn posted a blog on Digital Landing! Read up on the great invention of timed lights for your holiday decorations.

Tis the season to ring up big energy bills! Do you forget to turn off your outside holiday lights before you go to bed? Do you dislike going out in the cold to plug them in every night? Let technology make your life easier and add to your Christmas cheer.

Explore the wide range of timers from 24 hour to 7 day timers available at local home improvement stores. Some are set to come on at a particular time of day. Others come on as the sun goes down. You can also find options with remote controls so you can turn them on when you want, but you still don’t have to go outside to do it.

What’s your favorite holiday tech?