A few weeks back I finally broke down and got a MiFi.  Yeah, you’ve certainly read plenty about the  mobile hotspot device.  I got to put the MiFi to the test over the last few weeks.  While I own a separate 3G aircard, and have tethered my BlackBerry using Tetherberry to frequently to surf when a good (free ) wireless hotspot was not available, I have to say…the MiFi is all that! In fact, I hear Judie’s got one on the way — so you know it’s good.

So, what do I like about it?  During my week-long trip last week the MiFi proved itself to be the best gear in my bag. That is no exaggeration.  I had the MiFi in my bag and was able to connect and stay on top of work (and posts!) no matter where I was.  Venture out of the hotel?  No problem.  I wasn’t scouring for a coffee shop or checking for an open (and unsecure) network.  I was able to enjoy some sight-seeing one afternoon and still able to respond to critical emails — while enjoying a break and taking in the scenery of the San Francisco bay.  Back at the conference, when many attendees were lamenting the constant drops from the WiFi provided by the hotel (that they had to pay for, no less) — I was able to help a few fellow participants by letting them hop on my MiFi connection.

Since up to 5 device connections can be used simultaneously, the MiFi was able to get a few other people out of a bind.  Plus, when my other carrier data connection (cough) was a bit spotty in areas, I found using the MiFi as my hotspot provided a steady, fast, and reliable way to ensure I was always online via my laptop, Bold, or iPhone.  Sure, there’s a 5GB cap (and the service is not cheap with the $60 monthly service fee …plus taxes) — but the MiFi has certainly replaced my 3G aircard.    Being able to just throw it in a bag (or my jacket pocket) and surf or respond to email from any location was, really, pure bliss.  If the MiFi started running out of juice — I would get about 4 or so hours out of it before needing to recharge — I would simply plug it up to my laptop via the micro-USB cable.  Sure, I couldn’t share the connection if it was plugged in to the laptop, but the MiFi would charge and let me surf in tethering mode.

This MiFi is definitely a keeper

A lot of people are going to a laptop only computing experience.  There are even some that are going to a netbook only experience as a netbook is all they need.  Sometimes, however, it is nice to have a screen that is bigger than what a netbook can provide.  The same can be said about the touchpad and the keyboard.  Wouldn’t it be nice to plop your laptop or netbook down and have it attached to a 24 inch LCD?  That’s where this dock comes in. Continue Reading

USBFever is a great site with a wealth of USB devices for sale; pretty much everything that you could want that plugs into a USB port (and many items that don’t), from memory sticks to sync/charge cables to hubs.  But they go well beyond the “usual” USB gadgets into the well… odd.  I often shake my head at some of the items they have, which are mostly (but not always) USB-powered and often (but not always) utterly gratuitous.  Sure, they’re fun and could possibly be useful in a particular situation; they just don’t have the obvious usefulness of most USB items. — and maybe that’s the appeal.  You’d be hard pressed to truthfully say you need this stuff, but it’s easy to want it.  Take for example, some of their newest items:

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I recently reviewed Shinnoire’s custome iPhone Leather Flip Case.  I had a lot of fun selecting my personal color choices for the case.  It’s not often you get to pick and choose the exact colors which will go into your case and then have it personally hand crafted.

Shinnorie offers the same level of customization for their bags as well and I was also allowed to custom build a laptop bag for review.

The bag I had built is their Skinny Slim Bag.  It’s a slim bag good for short trips, daily commutes to and from work or meetings.  The bag is built from a stain resistant nylon covered EVA hard shell and is generously padded with foam lining.

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A-DATA recently announced the release of a waterproof and shock resistant hard drive.  The sh93 Incorporates rubber and plastic along with special cushion materials that allow it to withstand a 1M waterproof test for 30 minutes and military standard MIL-STD-810F drop test.

The SH93 comes in two colors : racing car yellow and chili pepper red. With capacity up to 640GB, it is designed for users to conveniently carry around massive documents without the fear of damaging files stored in the drive in the incident of accidental drop or water spills.

I’m quite familiar putting hard drives to the “test” and took the A-DATA with me to the firehouse to see if it really does stand up.

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In my office, I have two guest chairs that face my desk.  My laptop sits on a stand on my desk so that it’s facing me but not viewable by anyone sitting in the guest chairs.  The only problem is that I often have coworkers in my office, talking about a file or participating in a Live Meeting.  When that happens, I either take the computer off the stand and position it where we both can see it, or my coworker has to move a chair around and sit beside me behind the desk. If only someone made a solution for that.  I dunno, a stand that… swivels.  Yeah, that’s it, a swiveling stand.

Oh wait, there is one.  The Swivel Notebook Stand from LapWorks spins 360° using steel ball bearings and has seven position settings so you can position your notebook at the proper height for you.  It also features a built-in low noise cooling fan and a 4-port USB hub. The stand comes in black and has a six-month warranty.  It’s regularly priced at $79.95, but is currently on sale for $69.95.  Enter coupon code FREESHIP at checkout to get free shipping on orders over $60.

I’ve always admired those lap top stand which sit on your desk and allow you to place your notebook computer on them for better and more ergonomic viewing angles.  But what happens when you leave your desk?  Most of these stands won’t fit in your gear bag and therefore you have to leave them at home.

Enter AViiQ and their Portable Laptop Stand.  The stand, which works with all laptops, including 17″ wide models, easily folds down to 1/4″ for total portability and ease of storage.  It’ll simply slide into your laptop sleeve or case.

The stand also keeps your computer at a 12 degree angle which helps with overheating issues.

Specs on the stand are as follows:

*Supports up to a 17″ laptop
*Keyboard Angle: 12 degrees
*Folded Dimensions: 12.75″ x 2.75″ x 0.25″
*Unfolded Dimensions: 11″ x 9″ x 1.75″
*Weight: 5.5 oz

The Portable Lap Top stand is available for pre-order at a price of $79.95, here.

I saw this printer in action in a New York Best Buy last week, and I have to say that it was nothing short of cool. You can get and print maps, recipes, coupons, purchase movie tickets, and do all kinds of other things – directly from the touch panel front of this web connected beast of a printer. Granted, you could do the same from your computer, but being able to do these things without booting up the ol’ desktop is a pretty cool feature; plus the printer itself is pretty nice.

The regular price is $399.99, but you can get yours for $339.99 with free shipping. Not bad for a day’s savings!

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has announced to voluntary recalls.

The first involves two Halloween themed flashlights which were sold at Target stores between August 2009 – September 2009.

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Like a lot of people, my primary computer for day to day use is a laptop.  I take it with me when I go out in the morning, and I use it in my home office when I return in the evening. One accessory that I find indispensable when I am working at a desk is a dedicated laptop riser stand.  These stands offer flexibility, ergonomics, and increased airflow to your laptop while it’s running.  You also save valuable desk space by not having the additional clutter of another monitor. The best stands give you the ability to set your preferred laptop position, so you can comfortably view the screen without straining and hunching over your desk.

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Back in August, we wrote about the PlanOn Printstik Bluetooth printer for BlackBerry devices.  This past week, PlanOn provided a review unit on loan, and allowed me to put it through its paces for several days.   Now that the Printstik has been returned, what did I like about it?  What could be improved?  More importantly, is this an item that should be added to your gear for daily use?  Let’s find out…

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I get asked an awful lot to name my favorite mobile device.  My answer is usually the same.  Well, I like this device for these things, or another device for those other things, but favorite device really depends upon what you want to do.  I never found a device which was perfect for all things.  Until now.

Today, I am ready to name my favorite mobile device, and it is probably not what you expect.  This one does not have a screen or a keyboard.  It does not make phone calls.  It does not access the Internet.  What it does is provide you with instant access to everything…from every device.  That is why the Mifi Intelligent Mobile Hotspot is my new favorite device.  Let’s take a closer look.

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When Windows 7 is released on October 22 quite a few people will need a way to transfer data off their old computers to their shiny new Windows 7 hardware. Belkin announces their Easy Transfer Cable for Windows 7 that’s a fast and easy way to get files off one computer and onto another. With a list price of $39 you’ll probably find it worth the money versus other labor intensive choices like backing up your files to a few dozen DVDs and then copying them to your new computer – especially when you consider that the software post-migration report provides a comprehensive view of what was transferred, including lists of all programs and applications installed on old PC and links to download latest versions of programs

Belkin

Mophie, the company known for it uber-popular external batteries the Juice Pack and the Juice Pack air, has released some new charging accessories which work with USB compatible devices.

Three of the new items stand out:

The Low Profile USB Car Charger, which sells for $14.95, is very slim and should remain relatively unnoticeable in your car’s dash.

The Hybrid Wall and Car Charger, which sells for $24.95, combines a car charger along with a standard wall charger.  The wall charger’s prongs rotate 270 degrees to ensure you’ll be able to plug it in anywhere.

And finally, the Dual USB Wall Charger, which to me looks the coolest, allows you to charge two USB compatible devices simultaneously. It sells for $19.95

You can check out all the new devices on the Mophie web site.

Last year Judie reviewed the Altec Lansing Orbit speaker.  It was a interesting speaker that can be used with any device sporting a normal 3.5 mm headphone jack.  The downside to using such a speaker with a laptop is that the internal sound card in most laptops can be a bit noisy.

Altec Lansing recently sent me a sample of their  Orbit USB iML237 speaker. It solves the sound card issue perfectly.   Continue Reading