Wow. Talk about odd. James Kendrick at JKOnTheRun has made an observation about the LogMeIn remote access utility. LogMeIn (free version) lets you remotely connect via the Internet to control either a Windows or MAC computer. Apparently James upgraded to the pay version, and made a really sad discovery. For the extra $70 per year he is expected to pay - the LogMeIn Pro doesn’t support the Mac. That’s right - the Pro version REMOVES a key differentiating feature. A feature that the FREE version includes.

It seems that only the free version works on Macs. The Pro version can only be activated on Windows PCs and the file operations will only work from PC to PC. Put a Mac in that operation and it can’t be done. Now, not only does that eliminate the entire reason for me paying for the subscription but since the LogMeIn folks didn’t say anything during the upgrade process on the Mac, I was allowed to pay for a subscription I can’t use. Oh I could still use the Pro subscription by making a Windows PC the host, but that’s not what I need to do. So now I will be on the phone with the LogMeIn folks to get my money back. I’ll still be able to use the Free subscription and continue working like I have but it’s a darn shame that you can’t use their paid version on Macs.

JkOnTheRun - LogMeIn Pro- not for the Mac

The first flip phone from Blackberry, the 8220, is up for sale on the T-Mobile web site. Aside from the flip form factor and 2 MP camera, this phone is notable for offering Wi-Fi and access to T-Mobile’s Hotspot at Home. This innovative service allows you to make calls over the Internet without any extra fee (it uses your regular plan minutes). T-Mobile also offers unlimited add-ons for $10 that allow you to use unlimited Internet calling from any Wi-Fi hotspot (Tip: You can use this overseas to avoid roaming charges and you do not need a special T-Mobile plan for it to use regular T-Mobile voice minutes).

T-Mobile Blackberry 8220

While walking through the Sony store on Madison Ave Sunday I spotted the new PRS-700 eBook reader on display. Just like Mike Cane said, there was a Sony representative stationed next to it with a handful of brochures and lots of a little information about the device. These readers aren’t released yet (Release date? according to the store - “hmm - let me check” — “November? December? but we can pre-order” - according to the web site - available 11/14/2008 for $399.99) - and Mike Cane has done a tremendous job of analyzing them in considerable depth. As a Kindle owner, here’s my first impressions

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I’m forever borrowing my step-father’s ladder to reach the high places in my condo. And every time he sees me I’m asked when I’ll be returning it. Truth is these long ladders come in very useful. Until now I’ve had to hide store his ladder out in the garage because it was too tall to fit anywhere comfortably in my condo. Now there’s a 12.5 foot telescoping ladder (only 2.5 foot when collapsed) on sale for only $99 shipped at Buy.com. Hurry because their site say’s “limited stock”. Don’t need one yourself? Good holiday gift for any relative who’s always borrowing your ladder.

This telescoping ladder provides multiple lengths in one ladder. Lightweight (23 pounds) and compact (2-1/2 feet closed), it fits easily in a closet or a car trunk or behind a truck seat. It increases in length by 1-foot increments, up to a maximum of 12-1/2 feet. The rungs are made of specially processed aluminum for strength and have a round surface with a serrated tread for safe climbing. The molded conical feet and molded bumpers provide slip/skid resistance as well as surface protection. As the ladder expands, stainless-steel spring-loaded bolts (located within each rung) automatically engage for positive locking. The ladder closes with an easy-to-operate release mechanism.

Telescoping 12.5 foot ladder - $99 shipped

Electrolux just announced the winner of their Design Lab 2008 challenge. The best design this year? A refrigerator that stacks. Really? This is the best they could find. Must have been a slow competition year. And look at these innovative color matches - green, yellow and white? According to the press release:

College students, grad students and young professionals often share living spaces…and kitchens. With Flatshare, never again will they have to endure another person’s moldy cheese or old leftovers.

“I got the idea to create the Flatshare fridge because in many shared flats there is a problem with the refrigerator,” says Buchberger. “It gets filthy because no one person feels responsible for cleaning it.

Psst - hey - - Mr Buchbergger - while I would love not having to clean my dirty 1 square foot stackable refrigerator - what about a lock? The #1 problem in college is that people steal borrow food and beverages. Next year this contest should restrict entries to only people who have actually lived in a college dorm. At least this fridge has some use - unlike the iBasket that won second place and seems like it maybe would wash one pair of my jeans.

“Flatshare” Refridgerator Concept Wins 2008 International Electrolux Design Lab Student Competition

Radio Shack online (Note: Online deal only) has this Sandisk 8GB Cruzer for a total of $19.99 shipped. Although the description lists compatibility with Windows/Vista - that’s only for the Ready Boost crapware that installed on the disk. You can use this in any machine you please.

Supercharge your PC’s performance with SanDisk USB flash. This 8GB Cruzer is enhanced for ReadyBoost. When you plug in the drive a simple menu entry will allow you to use the drive for storage or to boost your system performance. Its also U3 smart enabled and it works with Mac OS X v10.1.2.

* Compatible with Windows 2000, SP4, XP and Vista, Certified Windows 2000 and XP
* U3 smart enabled on Windows 2000 (SP4 and later) & XP
* Enhanced for ReadyBoost to boost system performance with Vista
* 8GB capacity, backward compatible with USB 1.1, retractable USB connector

Sandisk 8GB Cruzer - $19.99 via: SD

If you have young kids and you’ve never heard of Geocaching , this is a family friendly activity you should check out. To participate, you’ll use a web site to locate GPS coordinates that lead you to hidden packages (called geocaches) in your local area. These are placed all over the world by volunteers participating in the sport. Take these coordinates with you - and your GPS - and off you go into the woods to find treasures. Kids love this and because GPS coordinates in the woods are a bit unreliable, finding the treasures is a lot harder than you’d think. Until now.

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Stuck for a gift for your ex-wife? Divorce is tough enough without having to struggle with helping the kids pick out something “special” for your ex’s birthday or holiday gift list. After all - you probably already are providing enough money so she can buy her own gifts. Instead, why not focus on something memorable yet not too expensive. This is possibly the world’s most perfect “The Kids Picked It Out” gift which while not totally useless will be fun to imagine her using with the kids around (to show them how much mommy loved their gift).

Slim-leg Slippers - $20

Pandora radio is a streaming music service that’s widely available for free via the Internet. There’s also a very well received free iPhone and iPod Touch application. As you listen to Pandora and rate songs it learns your preferences and plays similar sounding songs. Recently they’ve started to display advertising on the iPhone/Touch as a way to recoup some of their costs. What’s amazing is that this service remains completely free to AT&T iPhone users while users of other types of phones pay a monthly subscription fee. Now it’s available for Samsung Instinct users on Sprint. This application is going to set Instinct users back $2.99 per month billed through Sprint. To download Pandora Instinct owners should navigate to their Digital Lounge and open their wallets.

Pandora via Sprintusers

In his career Michael Jackson reportedly earned over half a billion dollars. He’s one of the few artists to be indicted inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame twice, won 13 Grammy Awards and captured 13 number one singles. Now you can have a piece of the record that arguably started it all. Michael Jackson’s Thriller album is on sale for $2.99 in DRM free MP3 format. Please ignore the fact that Michael no longer looks anything like the album cover and is apparently in a fortune-pissing-away contest with Mike Tyson.

Michael Jackson Thriller - $ 2.99