The Square Live at 7 - Tech Box: CES 2010 Gadgets 18Jan2010 (KGW-TV)

Sony Bloggie MP4 1080p 360degree camera Sony debuted this Flip-wannabe at CES, but not without adding useful features. Swivel head for recording your own clips, and a bundled attachment for 360-degree video after software processing. The camera uses USB to transfer videos and charge. (Buy: Amazon | SonyStyle)

Samsung TL225 Dual-view camera Taking self-portraits has never been easier. This digital point-and-shoot sets itself apart from the rest by offering a screen on the front. Tap the camera and a forward-facing screen lights up to get the perfect shot of you and your friends! No more guesswork. (Buy: Amazon)

Casio EX-G1 rugged digital camera It’s waterproof and shock-resistant. The Casio G1 takes all the benefits of the Exilim series and goes underwater! The ultimate cruise or beach camera it’s also quite slim, unlike many waterproof models. (Buy: Amazon)

Verbatim Insight Hard drive Want to know how much space you’ve got left? The integrated two-line display will title this portable drive and show you how much space you’ve got to backup your photos, videos, and other files. (Buy: Amazon)


Verbatim Tuff N Tiny memory stick Barely larger than your thumbnail and up to 8GB capacity. Built to resist dirt, water, and other elements. (Buy: Amazon)


PogoPlug at-home network attached storage Plugs into your home network, then attach any USB hard drive or flash memory stick and access those files securely from anywhere in the world. (Buy: Amazon)


Sprint Overdrive 3G/4G portable hotspot battery powered WiFi router now offers 4G speeds. Home-connection speeds from a go-anywhere device! (Buy: Amazon)

Google Nexus One Android 2.1 mobile phone $179 with T-Mobile service, $530 without. “THE” Android phone to own, it sports the latest version of Google open-source Android operating system complete with real turn-by-turn navigation. Favorite feature? “Car mode” for driving. (Buy: Google)

BlueAnt headset One of the first handsets to offer downloadable firmware, when the headset technology improves, you don’t need to buy a new one. (Buy: Amazon)

Plantronics 975 This handsfree headset comes with a battery-pack case. Slide the comfortable noise-cancelling headset into it’s cradle and it’ll top up the juice so you can talk longer. (Buy: Amazon)

Back to School Tech on KGW-TV's The Square "Live at 7"

click above to watch the broadcast as originally shown on KGW.com

It's time to send the rugrats back to school and young adults everywhere are leaving the nest and moving to campus. I recently took time away from Gnomedex 9 to jump on KGW's The Square "Live @ 7" to share some back to school tech tips.

First up, gadgets!

LiveScribe Digital Pen ($150+) – Amazon. Take notes with a digital pen, record voice annotations, and search the text you wrote and save for later. It's high-tech paper and pen!

Texas Instruments TI-89 Graphing Calculator ($140) – Amazon. The latest in graphing calculators from TI, the TI-89 is a must-have for back-to-school math. Plugs into your USB and even runs apps!

Griffin AirCurve Acoustic Amp for iPhone ($20) It's an amplifier without wires, cables, or batteries. Using acoustic molding and a clever tunnel of sound, the Aircurve jumps your volume up 10db. Perfect for iPhone!

Speck Products Laptop Backpack ($100) Use code "BMW25" for 25% all Speck Products. Get a stylish laptop bag that protects your new notebook!

Back-To-School Tips:

Computer essentials:

• Focus on RAM, screen, keyboard
  
• Battery Life critical
  
• Storage doesn’t matter, but…
  
• Portability does

Mac vs. PC?

• Personal preference
  
• Coursework may determine
  
• windows 7 Coming soon

Tech dorm essentials

• Plenty of spares!
  
• Ink cartridges
  
• Media
  
• Extra power supply, batteries, etc.
  
• Extra cables
  
• Backup plans

Helpful Back-to-School Websites:

http://www.chegg.com – rent textbooks like netflix, save money!

http://evernote.com -- capture notes, comments, clips on your phone or web

http://www.curriki.org -- Curriculum Wiki, perfect for educators and parents to help students

The Square Live at 7: Travel Tech with Tracy Barry

Today on The Square "Live @ 7" we talked Travel Gadgets while outdoors on the bricks at Pioneer Courthouse Square. Join me as Tracy and I explore the latest in summer-friendly travel gadgets-- including a camera to keep an eye on things while you're away from home.



To view this video on KGW.com, just point your browser here. For more, visit KGW.com/TheSquare and tune in weeknights at 7pm!

Earth Day: Green(er) Gadgets on The Square Live @ 7 w/Stephanie Stricklen (KGW-TV)

Mentioned during the segment:

• Recycle old computer parts with Portland's "Free Geek"


• Powergenix Earth-friendly batteries


• Scosche solCHAT is a solar-powered Bluetooth speakerphone


• Novothink Solar Surge iPhone battery pack



• Leviton Decora occupancy sensor switch


• Ochelly Water-Powered clocks

Watch the video on KGW.com.

Tech Events for April 22-24, 2009 -- Join Me!

There's a lot going on this week in Portland-- join me if any of the following events strike your fancy, or propose a new one? (Follow me on Twitter for last-minute updates!)

WEDNESDAY APRIL 22, 2009:
14:00 -- InnoTechPDX (Portland Ballroom 256): To blog or not to blog: Making blogging with Silicon Florist's Rick Turoczy, Marshall Kirkpatrick of ReadWriteWeb and Josh Bancroft (Legion of Tech, others).

15:30 -- InnoTechPDX (Portland Ballroom 256): Just the Tips Please - Implementing a Successful Online Strategy

19:00 -- KGW's The Square: Live at 7 with Stephanie Stricklen -- Newschannel 8 NBC/Portland or watch (w/open mic breaks!) online, 7-7:30pm. (Come down to KGW's Pioneer Courthouse Square studio to watch the show live, check out the gadgets, or just say hi!)

19:00 -- OMSI After Dark: OMSI After Dark! (thanks @addictedtotext for the reminder!)

THURSDAY APRIL 22, 2009:
06:40 -- Live on Newsradio 750 KXL: Weekly look at the week's hot tech topics, this week: Live from InnoTech PDX! (Tune in to Portland's Morning News on 750 AM / Portland or listen live online at KXL.com.)


08:00 -- InnoTechPDX (E145-146): Delivering Business Impact: A Strategic View of the Optimized Desktop and Windows 7

08:40 -- Live on Newsradio 750 KXL: Weekly look at the week's hot tech topics, this week: Live from InnoTech PDX! (Tune in to Portland's Morning News on 750 AM / Portland or listen live online at KXL.com.)

09:00 -- InnoTechPDX (Portland Ballroom 256): How Best-in-Class Companies Make Word of Mouth Marketing Work Successfully

09:00 -- InnoTechPDX (Portland Ballroom 256): How Best-in-Class Companies Make Word of Mouth Marketing Work Successfully

09:30 -- InnoTechPDX(E147): The State of the Mobile Industry with Jason Grigsby

10:00 -- InnoTechPDX(Portland Ballroom 256): Companies and Communities: Participating Without Being Sleazy

10:30 -- InnoTechPDX (E147): Mobile Platform Panel with Raven Zachary (iPhone), Jon Maroney (Handmark), Don Park (Android), Jason Harris (Nokia/Symbian), Jason Mauer (Microsoft)

11:30 -- InnoTechPDX(Portland Ballroom 255): Yes We Did: Strategic Insights and Social Media from the Campaign that Changed History with Rahaf Harfoush, New Media Strategist, Member of Obama's Social Media Team, & Associate Director of the Global Cooperation Initiative at the World Economic Forum

11:30 -- Lunch (tentative) (Widmer Gasthaus, ): Innotech Lunch Meetup/Tweetup at Widmer Gasthaus (details at Upcoming)

13:00 -- InnoTechPDX(Portland Ballroom 256): What is your Social Media Conversion Rate?

13:00 -- InnoTechPDX (E147): Mobility Lighting Talks

14:00 -- InnoTechPDX (Portland Ballroom 256): Social Media Marketing

14:30 -- InnoTechPDX (Inside Exhibit Hall E): InnoTech Happy 45 Minutes

15:30 -- InnoTechPDX (E147): The iPhone Market

15:30 -- InnoTechPDX (Portland Ballroom 256): Hot Seat Panel: Hot Seat Panel-Real World Advice From the Experts

16:30 -- InnoTechPDX (TBD):
6th Annual IT Executives of the Year Awards & Reception

18:00-20:00 -- ($15, Candy Bistro Burger Bar, 904 NW Couch Ave): 2009
SoMe Awards

FRIDAY APRIL 23, 2009:

16:00-18:00 -- (Green Dragon): Beer & Blog Portland

22:00-23:30 -- (StrangeLoveLive.com): Strange Love Live

E-Book Readers on The Square Live @ 7 w/Stephanie Stricklen (KGW-TV)

Watch the video on KGW.com.



Here are the E-book readers we discussed on Live at 7 on Thursday 10 April 2008:

• Amazon Kindle 2 ($360)
  
• Sony Reader Digital Book 505 ($300)
• Sony Reader Digital Book 700 ($350)
  
• Kindle iPhone App -- Apple iTunes App Store (free)

And for those on Twitter who asked, the iPhone 3G case is a Speck Products "CandyShell" (use "BMW25" for a 25% discount!).

Finally, huge props to TheOneTrueBix for his, as usual, stunning photos. Here's a good one, click on the image for more!

Busting Tech Myths on The Square Live @ 7 w/Stephanie Stricklen (KGW-TV)

Watch the video on KGW.com.



Megapixels matter. -- many consumers are falsely led to believe that "megapixels", a measure of image resolution recorded by a digital camera, are the most important aspect of a camera purchase. While one aspect of a camera's performance, often the megapixels are secondary to lens quality, a camera's speed, and other features.

You must buy software to keep your computer secure. -- while you certainly can buy anti-virus software and other online protection programs for your computer, some of the best tactics to keep your computer free from malicious virus and spyware don't cost anything at all. Free anti-virus software is in many cases just as good at the paid versions and keeping your computer safe frequently involves diligence, "cautious computing" and staying current with the latest software patches.

Online software is inadequate. -- Today's software no longer comes in boxes with large manuals. More often this software -- even the most elaborate professional applications -- is loaded electronically. Other types of applications, such as Picnik.com or Google Docs solutions. Many online web-based software packages do as much if not more than their traditional counterparts. Key advantages of using online apps: No need to update your local computer, access your programs (and often data) from any machine, often less expensive (free?).

Must upgrade your system every two years. -- This is even *less* true today. There as a time when computers were advancing quickly and became obsolete every few years... now, with more and more computing happening online, it's not uncommon for the older computers to perform just as well. Many users find completely whiping their hard drives and re-loading the operating system will give them that "showroom performance".

High-Definition TV requires subscription service. -- While it is true a large number of premium high-definition television channels are available only to those willing to pay for cable or satellite service-- most network channels are available free, over-the-air, using your existing antenna (or in some cases a low-cost upgrade). You will, of course, need a HDTV to watch the higer-quality broadcasts, but if you're looking for Heroes, my favorite 30 Rock, or want to see Live @7 in all it's stunning HDTV glory, consider over-the-air HDTV.

Online video is illegal. -- On the contrary! Most online video is very legal and supported by the very content providers that bring these shows to your television nightly. Look towards supported services such as Hulu, iTunes and the networks' own websites to stream first-run TV shows directly to your PC or mobile phone.

CES Gadgets on The Square Live @ 7 w/Stephanie Stricklen (KGW-TV)

Watch the video at KGW.com: Click here

HP Netbooks are award-winning solutions for business users and consumers alike. The new HP Mini 2140 starts at $500 and has lots of connectivity options -- video out, USB, an ExpressCard slot, even an SD card reader. The Vivienne Tam-designed digital clutch, also from HP, is touted as the world's first digital clutch. They're a bit of a premium at $699, hey... it matches Stephanie's outfit!

Docupen Scanneris a pen-sized color scanner capable of storing up to 100 pages. The gadget's barely larger than a pen, and perfect for taking notes or quick scanning. Grab one for $300 (http://planon.com).

PrintStik PS900. Print your boarding pass from your hotel room, invoices in the field, or any other portable printing task with the grayscale "print stick". About the size of a paper towel core, it's thermal printing means no ink to mess around with. Load it up with paper and you're set. Print from a Bluetooth computer, phone, or other device. Take printing with you for $200 (http://www.planonstore.com ).

A CES award-winner, Clickfree's line of backup solutions makes protecting your data foolproof. Plug it in, click "go" - the software's built-in to the device so it's simple to operate. Already got a hard drive you like? Use the $60 cable to upgrade your existing USB drive to a Clickfree backup solution. (http://www.goclickfree.com)

Speaking of HD video, Creative Labs brings high-definition video to a pocket-sized camera with the Vado HD. Simple integrated USB port and a 2x zoom, the camera is a compact on-the-go HD solution. They're $229 from Creative.com and even cheaper on Amazon.com.

Swann Security is well known for surviellance gear -- it's no wonder they'd be showing off a covert Pen Camera at CES. With 2GB of memory and a built-in USB port to download video -- even Bond would be envious. No price yet, but you'll be able to find them at http://www.swannsecurity.com soon.

The Scuba Series HD 320 snorkel mask has a forehead-positioned camera capable of high-defition video and great stills. They're not quite available yet, but check the announcement at http://www.liquidimageco.com

Web Bonus:

LG Solar Bluetooth Car Kit HFB-500 is a solar-powered speakerphone for your car. Suction cup the card-deck sized gadget to the inside of your windshield, pair to your phone, and enjoy handsfree calling. The HFB-500 uses solar-power so no need to run cables to your cigarette lighter. One hour of charge equals two hours of use. More info at http://www.lge.com.