Shopping Product Reviews

The newest home electronics and the latest travel gadgets of 2010

It’s only the first of the year, 2010, and yet another huge array of electronic innovations are already being introduced at CES 2010 EXPO. has produced in the last 12 months, since CES 2009. One can never be fully prepared for the unsurpassed number of products that have been presented at this global event. There were over 2,800 companies represented and over 20,000 new products, with over 120,000 attendees.

The January 13, 2010 issue of CEA published the following article, New Business Rules: Women in Business. Here is an excerpt from that article:
“With 40% of the nation’s businesses owned by women, accounting for 16% of US jobs, these businesses have a huge impact on our economy—approximately $3 trillion. According to the Center for Business Research of Women, these businesses grew at twice the rate of other segments between 1997 and 2002, and have continued to keep pace, and I can only see continued growth in their contribution, especially as many women are starting “side businesses” to generate income. during the recession – including access to capital and markets and managing work-life integration – that many of their male counterparts are invited to join them on February 17-18, 2010 in Houston for a discussion on “The New Business Rules for Women Entrepreneurs”.

All the latest travel gadgets were featured, as well as everything the mobile business executive or tourist could use in their quest to stay in touch with friends and family, partners and customers. From easing workload to reducing communication and production costs. From cell phones to VOIP Internet access, smart computers and tablets, mini storage devices, mobile chargers and a host of new games and gear.

Last year we reported on several inexpensive ways to communicate around the world for pennies, including Skype and Magic jack. Now Panasonic and LG are producing TVs with built-in Internet and Skype, a camera and a microphone. From the comfort of your own sofa, you’ll be able to make video calls with family and friends on big TVs while eating your favorite snacks.

Netbooks are being replaced by Smartbooks, minicomputers and tablets, with the key to this sleek and efficient new computer being a faster, longer lasting battery. Lenovo has a 10-inch Smartbook with 3G and a 10-hour battery for $499. Many other prices have dropped, though, with a full computer inside a keyboard starting at $99.00 to a variety of small computers starting at $150 and up. forget the most important thing, backup DataJack has unlimited nationwide 3G Internet access available via a USB modem for $39.95 with no contacts or activation fees.

Worried about data loss or computer crash? “Crashplan” will backup your entire computer, programs and files, online for as little as $3.50 per month, with instant access from anywhere.

Video glasses are now the travel device of choice when it comes to watching movies or TV on the go. With an 80″ virtual 3D screen and stereo sound, this allows you to literally take the show on the road. The camera glasses also allow you to film whatever event you’re watching through the new “Wrap” series of video glasses from Vuzix, starting at $70, These are great for your kids’ games or just capturing those memorable moments as they happen.

International Supplies has two versions of the Video Goggles and ALL-In-ONE, an 80″ virtual LCD TV screen and a 50″ virtual screen. A true mobile theater with 3D, stereo sound and lots of memory expansion. Wireless remote control makes it as a theater and personal entertainment center anytime, anywhere.

Zomm has a unique device for this summer that vibrates and flashes if you get too far away from a Bluetooth phone you’ve paired it with. The creators of Zomm herald it as the first “wireless strap” for cell phones, designed to keep you from losing your phone. It is currently priced at $80.

The most innovative product that could change the way you send documents is the “Duo”, a revolutionary new omnidirectional transmitter with built-in infrared. It allows you to attach it to your computer screen and write, write or draw directly on all documents. You need to sign a contract or other item that requires a signature, just write it directly on your screen and send it via email. A plug ‘n play USB device that doubles as a virtual mouse and keyboard. At $120, it fits in your pocket.

The home of the future is now! Remote controls that control 100 devices, display information from the Internet on screen, control HVAV, shades, mobile and home PCs, your lighting, music and video streaming throughout the house.

Broderbund has launched Print shop 2.0 for small business and work-from-home entrepreneurs, the easiest and fastest way to produce all your print and photo needs with over 150 wizard design tools in less than 5 minutes each. You can create business cards, signs, brochures, press releases, advertisements, web campaigns, and more. It’s never been easier to create all your printing needs in less time than it takes to print. Available in standard, deluxe and professional, any of these options will be an advantage for your business.

Reading is booming! With the ability to store more than 1,400 books in two GB of memory, e-books are flooding the market, with a variety of wireless, offline, and mixed-use books with dual screens and color. Many come with voice recorders, MP3 players, personal organizers, schedulers, and notepads. There are also e-reader and netbook combos, with an e-ink screen on one side and a color touch screen on the other. Prices range from $200 to $500 but should come down with all the competition coming from everywhere.

Are you ready to create your own home movies at the touch of a keyboard? With the new “Reveal” software from Muvee (http://www.muvee.com), creating movies is as simple and easy as taking the pictures themselves. Just add water, it’s as simple as that. From inserting pictures, music, and image transitions, at the push of a button, you’ll have an instant home movie that you can send to family, friends, Youtube, Facebook, Twitter, or your favorite Hollywood producer. Now it’s time to get out all those old photos, videos, and slides and make your own movies to preview for the world.

Dick Tracy wishes he had it so good. The new watch cell phones have a touch screen, built-in camera, audio player, SMS messaging, image viewer, QWERTY keyboard and easy dialer.

Slimmer TVs, 3-D TVs, mobile TVs, and cell phone TVs are becoming commonplace. Flat screen TVs thinner than a dime are readily available. 3-D TV shows are already available and more are coming every day. Cell phone television is growing by leaps and bounds and mini TV tuners are available to connect to anything with a screen.

Tired of those sky-high electric bills but not sure what is causing the biggest increases. P3 International has released the “Kill A WattEZ”. Just plug it into your wall outlet and then plug in any appliance and it will tell you how much, in kw hours and cost. Replace all those old appliances that are draining your power.

On an even healthier note, the electric cigarette is growing tremendously in popularity. With no tar or harmful second-hand smoke, they can be enjoyed anywhere as there is no tobacco or harmful carbon monoxide like in traditional cigarettes. Simply replace the filter every 300 puffs or so with a fresh filter, available in different nicotine strengths. Less offensive to others and healthier for you.

On a more personal note, a company called Intellius has devised a “datecheck,” which is a FREE service that allows you to go online on your cell phone or netbook while you’re out and about and immediately check on someone you just met and need to know what kind of person he is. For a small fee, you can also get a more detailed report on anyone.

Sports

Boating Laws in US Waters

If you are sailing in American waters, these are things you need to know!

There are some important things to know if you are on a ship in US waters.

I know some of this stuff may really surprise you, but you don’t have the same constitutional rights when you’re on America’s waterways.

Article III of the Constitution granted full judicial authority over all waterways under federal control. In other words, when it comes to boating law, there really is no such thing as state law, it’s federal law.

Now it’s true that the state may have control over the lakes that are within the state, but the federal government controls the waterways, what does that mean? It means every bay, river, inlet, that empties into the ocean, that’s where our constitutional rights, specifically, the Fourth Amendment, don’t apply.

Are our constitutional rights not applied? what do I want to say with that?

The Bill of Rights protects US citizens from certain government control. Article 4 states that there will be no unreasonable searches and seizures. That’s why when you’re driving down a highway in America, a police officer can’t just decide to pull you over. They must have what’s called probable cause, like weaving in and out of traffic or speeding, that’s probable cause, then they’re allowed to pull you over. But even once they pull you over, they’re not allowed to search for no reason or sixteen and they can’t just say open the trunk of your car I want to see what’s in there! No, they have to call a judge to get a search warrant.

The Fourth Amendment protects us from unreasonable searches and seizures, but in navigable waters, we don’t have that Fourth Amendment right in the same way that we do when on land. The federal government does not have to have probable cause to detain someone on a ship in navigable waters.

The Coast Guard is an arm of the federal government, they can arrest anyone and they can board any vessel without probable cause and they are authorized to do so. They can also arrest you without probable cause. So don’t forget that the Coast Guard can and will board any vessel they see fit. They do not have to ask permission and can arrest you without probable cause.

Now, where does the coast guard get this authority? By statute of law.

Here’s a quick story. I have a friend who is a sailor who lives aboard, he rents his 50 foot boat on a lake inlet in S. Florida. At about one o’clock in the morning, he heard these loud bangs that woke him up. Who the hell is calling my ship! When he came out ready to fight, he was blinded by a spotlight. There was a coast guard boat that had the searchlight on it and there was an officer behind a machine gun on the deck! The PA horn declared, prepare to be boarded.

I was really upset and thinking, I haven’t done anything wrong.

We don’t expect the police to show up when they weren’t doing anything wrong. That expectation is in fourth amendment rights, which don’t apply when we’re in navigable waters of the US. So just cooperate with them and you won’t have a problem, they have the legal authority as written in the law.

I hope this has given you an idea that will give you the knowledge you need to know and expect with the legal issues that can arise when boating in US waters.

Tours Travel

Using the best catering services for your corporate hospitality needs

As the corporate hospitality industry gears up for London 2012, UK caterers and outside caterers are preparing for the busiest weeks of their business lives.

Corporate hospitality is big business now, and never more so than at an international sporting event like this, the biggest and best in the world of course.

It really is the perfect way to surprise customers of all countries and nationalities: a day in the Olympic stadium watching the world’s best athletes compete on a world stage, but with an excellent three-course lunch with fine wines and champagne, perhaps a traditional English. tea for wives and couples, all culminating in a gala dinner when the day’s sport is over. What better way to secure new business and keep old ones too?

External caterers and caterers involved in corporate hospitality must therefore ‘up their game’ in the coming months to ensure they stay ahead of the competition in the corporate hospitality catering packages they offer. Of course, some companies will fare better than others – some of the largest and most well known caterers such as Keith Prowse and “rhubarb” even offer corporate hospitality consulting services so that your experience in all things event related can be shared with any group. or organization, anywhere in the world.

And some companies will need that help. Good corporate hospitality isn’t simple: It’s not about sandwiches and cold beer (although that happens sometimes too!). No, good corporate hospitality catering is a good balance between great food, plenty of drink, charming staff and excellent levels of service, as well as (of course) the event it’s based on. Truly flawless corporate hospitality will also take into account branding, logos, goodie bags and all the other minute details that make a difference in corporate entertainment.

Top caterers like Urban Caprice or Alison Price can offer anything, anywhere, and are experts at serving food to polo field marquees, rowing club outfields, and even training or practice rooms. from sports stadiums and music venues.

And location is, of course, crucial: for 2012, hundreds of new corporate hospitality venues are being planned and built. Huge swathes of temporary tents and installations will be set up alongside the Thames, for example spaces dedicated to outdoor caterers and their work to entertain the world during the Olympics.

However, wherever corporate hospitality catering takes place, you need to ensure that you have the concept, styling, menu design, operational delivery, and every part of the event process in between, down to absolute perfection.

Experienced corporate event caterers can make every corporate event a true theatrical production, with the finest glassware and china, the most professional corporate logo and uniformed staff, and of course the best, freshest, seasonal food. served in the most impressive way. . If you work events for a large corporate company, and if your corporate event budget fits the bill, then using this type of event catering company means you can be sure your business is hitting exactly the right notes. If you want perfectionism and professionalism, if you want to impress with attention to every little detail, if you want your corporate event catering to reflect and mirror your company’s business image and reputation, then this is the way to go!

Technology

Beginner’s Guide to Buying a Desktop Computer

People certainly aren’t camping out outside stores in the rain to get the latest and greatest desktop these days, but PCs are far from dead. Simply put, there are certain functions that mobile devices and laptops can’t do or can’t do as well as a desktop.

Not to mention that there is nothing better than the price. A cheap desktop will be way ahead of a cheap laptop. It is expensive to do the small things. Small size is what draws some people when choosing a new computer, but these days big honking towers aren’t your only option.

desktop computer styles

There are a lot more variations and options in the desktop form factor, which is great in some ways, but also makes the buying process a lot more complicated. You can find computers in each of these categories at a variety of price points, so the most important thing to consider is how you plan to use your desktop.

Tower

The classic desktop form factor, towers have been retained for good reason. It’s hard to pack a lot of power into smaller devices like a laptop or tablet at a reasonable price. The power-to-price ratio of tower computers is practically unbeatable.

There is also much more flexibility with a tower. There is more room to upgrade and expand the system when newer technology comes along, whereas with smaller devices you may just have to buy an entirely new system.

However, towers take up quite a bit of space and if space is at a premium in your home, a tower might be out of the question. They also require a separate monitor, keyboard, and mouse. There are some cases where those accessories are included, or you can get a discount if you buy them at the same time as the computer, but plan to buy them when you’re working out your budget.

All in one

All-in-one computers offer a simple, space-saving setup. These are essentially a cross between a desktop and a laptop. They feature a large monitor with all the necessary components built into the back or base.

The small design gives you much more flexibility with placement and keeps your work area uncluttered. Plus, because everything is all in one, setup usually just involves plugging it in. However, you still need a separate keyboard and mouse.

Because these computers are smaller, they’re not as powerful as a tower, and you can’t customize or expand them (although this also makes them much simpler). There’s also the problem that if the monitor breaks, you need a whole new computer.

PC Mini and Stick

These computers use moving components to keep them small (like all-in-one). As such, they are not very powerful, but they are extremely portable. Mini PCs are small enough to hide behind a monitor or TV, and stick PCs are slightly larger than a USB stick. Due to the small size, they are not very powerful and internal expansion is limited to impossible.

While you won’t be able to do advanced gaming or media editing, they work great for everyday tasks, browsing the Internet, and viewing media. Setup is extremely easy and they are very versatile as you can use them as a home office during the day and then hook them up to a TV for a home theater at night.

The different operating systems

The question of which operating system (OS) to choose doesn’t come up as often with desktop computers as it does with tablets and smartphones, but it’s still something to consider.

windows 10

This is definitely the most common desktop operating system, so you’ll have a huge selection of compatible third-party hardware and software. It’s designed around a touchscreen interface, though it still works very well with the classic mouse and keyboard, so if you don’t buy a touchscreen monitor, you won’t have a problem.

mac OS Sierra

If you belong to a family of Apple lovers, Mac could be for you. Sierra is only found on Mac computers, so it’s limited in its hardware, but these are well-made computers that have historically had fewer problems with viruses. A Mac will also pair seamlessly with your other Apple devices and programs.

chrome operating system

If you’re just looking for simple, no-frills computing, Chrome OS will be your ally. The operating system runs custom apps and cloud-based programs unlike other operating systems that run software. It’s not suitable for demanding tasks like gaming, but it’s great for email, file sharing, and browsing. You’ll always need to be connected to the Internet, but that’s usually not a problem with desktop computers.

Types of desktop computers

Not everyone will use a desktop computer for the same reasons, and how you use it will influence the type of computer you buy. After all, you don’t need a complex, high-powered machine just to check your email.

commercial PCs

These PCs are plain, simple machines that don’t allow for advanced computing, but are easy to repair and upgrade. They also often offer additional security, software and hardware certification programs, software support, and some even have on-site technical support.

Work stations

These are specialized PCs that feature multi-core processors and intense graphics. They’re perfect for scientific calculations, media creation, and other high-powered tasks that wouldn’t even be remotely possible on a laptop.

gaming pc

These are (as the name suggests) made to play. They feature specialized graphics cards, extremely fast multi-core processors, and many have flashy design elements, though they generally cost more. Upgradability is a must as newer and more immersive games are released.

learn the jargon

There’s a lot of terminology you need to know before you buy a PC so you really know what you’re buying. This PCWorld list goes into more detail, but here’s a quick breakdown of the terms you need to know and understand.

Processor (CPU)

This is the brain of your computer. Processor speed is measured in gigahertz (GHz), and in general, the higher the clock speed, the better the performance and the higher the price. The more cores a processor has, the better the performance too. Desktop computers have an Intel or AMD processor.

Memory

Random Access Memory (RAM) determines how good your computer is at multitasking. The higher the RAM, the better, especially for high-powered tasks like gaming. For simple tasks like email and web browsing, 2GB is fine, but for anything more advanced than that, look for a computer with 4GB or more.

Internal storage

The amount of storage your desktop has determines the amount of stuff you can keep on your computer. Desktop computers almost always have more storage than laptops and for a fraction of the cost. It’s also easy to upgrade your hard drive for more storage or upgrade to a solid-state drive.

Expect the best price, but don’t expect too much

Once you’ve decided which computer you want (and read plenty of reviews to make sure it’s really up to the task), it’s time to buy. This can be tricky with a desktop computer because it can be quite expensive and technology is always evolving.

While it may be tempting to just buy the computer when you’re ready, you may be missing out on a great deal or the latest technology. Shop regularly over a period of time instead of spending a whole day looking around. You are more likely to catch a deal that way. Also check the launch dates of the new models. Chances are you’ll get a good deal on an older model, or maybe you just want the latest tech.

Waiting for a sale also means you can upgrade your computer specs with the money you save, which means your computer is a little more “future-proof” than if you just went for the cheapest you can find.

However, this is a balancing act. If you spend too much time waiting for the perfect deal or the latest model, you’ll never end up buying your desktop. So be patient and wait for the sales, but once you find the model you want in an acceptable price range, go ahead and buy it.