From Concept to Consumer by Phil Baker

"From Concept to Consumer - How to Turn Ideas into Money". Available on-line at  Barnes & Noble, Amazon and Barnes & Noble and other bookstores everywhere. Also available as an e-book on the Nook and Kindle. From Financial Times Press.  What others are saying:

Do patents hinder innovation?

This excellent article in the Economist points out how patents can actually hinder innovation and are often not worth the cost to acquire and support them. Well worth reading.

Three innovative products from San Diego companies (San Diego Transcript)

 San Diego companies can take credit for some innovative new products spotted at the recent Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Here's a sampling of three, each with products that are defining new categories.

Flo TV personal television

Flo TV, a subsidiary of Qualcomm, introduced its mobile TV technology in its first pocketable stand-alone product. It's the same service that's been available on some phones from Verizon and AT&T.

Flo TV delivers about a dozen channels, including mobile versions of CBS, ABC, NBC CNBC, ESPN, Fox, the Food Network, MTV, MSNBC and Comedy Central. The number of stations is expected to grow to about 20 by the end of the year as Qualcomm acquires more UHF capacity across the country.

The device I tested, made by HTC, has a 3.5-inch, 320 x 240 dpi display with a built-in folding stand. It's about the size of a Blackberry, a half-inch thick, and easily slips into a pocket or small purse. The antenna is built in so there's nothing to extend. A built-in rechargeable battery provided about four hours of run time.

The built-in speakers sound quite good for their small size; headphones can also be used. There are the usual small buttons for volume, mute, programming guide, battery check and on/off; it also has a touch screen that's used to scan through stations and a battery check gauge. But for such a breakthrough product, its appearance is quite plain.

Two new "charge-everything" gadgets

 So many companies have come up with gadgets for charging multiple devices while on the road. Two recently introduced products provide new approaches  to do a lot with a less bulk. 

Dexim DWP005 MHub...
 The first, the Dexim DWP005 MHub Dock Station for iPhone 3GS/3G/iPod is a sort of jack of all trades designed to simplify all of the adapters we normally carry. (Suggestion: How about simplifying the name?).

 It's a small aluminum stand with an iPod/iPhone dock, 3 USB connectors, and an SD card reader slot. In addition, the AC adapter that''s used to provide power to the stand has two more USB connectors. The stand can be plugged into a computer to bring power to its USB ports and dock (and sync your iPhone), or used with the AC adapter. The DWP005 packs a lot in a small package, but one caution. Even though it has many USB ports for charging, the computer or wall adapter powering it limits the total current, so you'll not get enough current at each USB connector to use them all at once.  About $50. (dexim.net).

Zagg Sparq
 The Zagg Sparq takes a different approach. It's a block quite similar to a large Apple MacBook Pro charger that plugs into the wall and provides 

"From Concept to Consumer" now an audio book

Now available on Audible.com in an unabridged edition at 5 hrs. and 36 minutes. $14.96.

Apple's iPad - Will it succeed? (San DIego Transcript)

 After months of anticipation, Apple's new iPad tablet computer was introduced to an eager audience of press and employees along with millions more following blogs over the Internet, salivating over Steve Jobs' every comment. Now that the hoopla and hype have died down, let's take an objective look at the product and its potential. 

What it is
 The 1 1/2 pound iPad is about the size of a magazine, smaller than a standard sheet of paper at 9.5 by 7.5 by ½-inch thick. It has a 9.7-inch 1024 x 768 LCD multi-touch display. It's powered by a non-removable battery that Apple rates at 10 hours. (Based on previous battery ratings from Apple and others, it's likely to be closer to 5 to 6 "real-world" hours.)

The iPad uses the iPhone operating system, working much in the same way, and runs most of the iPhone's 140,000 apps. The iPad costs  $499 to $829 depending on memory size (16MB to 64MB) and whether it has a built-in 3G modem. WiFi is standard on all models. That prices it between smartphones and notebooks, an area where PC netbooks and budget laptops have dominated.

Avoid the Google Nexus phone for now

Google's new Nexus One Android phone has gotten great reviews, but hold off before buying. While Google made a big splash announcing they would be selling the phone directly, they forgot about after sales support and service. First they offered support by email, promising to respond within a few days. You can imagine how that went over! Then they quickly arranged for service and support to be provided by HTC, the phone's manufacturer. But customers are complaining in droves about HTC's failure to replace broken phones and their total incompetency. You can read about some of the problems here and here. 

Get more Zs with Zeo (San Diego Transcript)

 When I mentioned to my wife I was going to review the Zeo personal sleeping coach, a new electronic device that monitors sleep, she got all excited and thought it might address my snoring and signs of sleep apnea, two common sleep ailments many suffer from. But that's not what Zeo does, and the company does note that it's not a medical device.

Instead the product measures what the company refers to as your quality of sleep, the amount of sleep in its different states (deep, R.E.M. and light sleep), the total sleep time, the time it takes to fall asleep, and the number of times during the night that you were awake. 

Tripit now on BlackBerry

The free TripIt app for BlackBerry, has just been released. The BlackBerry app joins the free mobile apps for iPhone and Android that I covered last year as one of the year's best products, particularly for business travelers. Like those apps, it puts your travel itineraries with all the details on your BlackBerry, including travel confirmation emails from corporate booking sites and corporate travel agencies. It also syncs travel plans with the built-in BlackBerry calendar which in-turn syncs with a traveler’s Outlook calendar. www.tripit.com.

New York Times hypocrisy

 The New York Times purports to hold their contributors to a high ethical standard. Yet this hard hitting, on-the-mark piece from the San Francisco Weekly exposes the New York Times' hypocrisy:   If NY Times Is So Damned Ethical, What's Up With Payola-Meister David Pogue?

A glimpse of the future (San DIego Transcript column)

 Imagine this: You walk up to the door, wave a small card near the handle and the door unlocks. Walk in and electronics sense your presence, turn on the lights, open the drapes, adjust the temperature and turn on the TV with a welcoming message. Was this something new at the Consumer Electronics Show? No. It was what happened when I entered my guest room at the new Aria Hotel in Las Vegas. While I saw lots of new technology products at CES, Aria's guest room was as impressive as anything at the show.

The Aria Hotel, with its 4004 rooms, is part of the MGM-Mirage's City Center, the new 18 million-square-foot development that recently opened on the strip near the Bellagio Hotel. The Aria sits in the middle of this futuristic complex that consists of four hotels, 42 restaurants, offices, condominiums and a shopping center. 

2010 CES bodes well for the economy (San Diego Transcript column)

With the consumer electronics business taking a downturn in 2009, many companies hunkered down and focused on how they could better compete in 2010. The results of these efforts were on display at CES 2010 this past week, a show that was much more upbeat than last year's . There seemed to be more products designed to differentiate and add more value rather than to compete just on price.

These offerings included 3D TV, new notebook form factors, tablets and some exciting new phones. Here are some of the most interesting products I saw:

A simpler New Year (San Diego Transcript)

The New Year is a great time to reduce the complexity of living with technology. It has a tendency to steal more of our time, bit by bit, whether it's learning to use a new product or fighting an increase in junk e-mail. But technology can also be used to help simplify things.

Here are 10 ideas for a simpler 2010.

1. Auto-backup your computer -- This is the perennial nag that most of us ignore until calamity hits. But, seriously, it's never been easier to back up your computer, and then never think about it again. The simplest, easiest, and no hassle way to do it is using a product such as Carbonite. No hardware to buy or set up, no cables to configure. It's as easy as buying a book online. Just sign up at its site and download the software. Carbonite will back up everything on your computer in the background without interrupting what you're doing. It costs $55 per year and is available for both PCs and Macs. (carbonite.com)

Keeping the Internet open (San Diego Transcript column)

In 2010 the FCC will be addressing one of the most important technology issues of our time: who controls and regulates what's sent on the Internet.

According to Jack M. Balkin, the Knight Professor of Constitutional Law and the First Amendment at Yale Law School, "The phone and cable companies (ISPs) want to be in charge of the Internet; they want to be able to block user requests, charge software companies and Web sites discriminatory prices to reach users, and even cut exclusive deals ... Essentially, they want no rules."

The FCC is proposing rules to maintain net neutrality, to prevent the ISPs from blocking online content such as applications, services and data. In addition, the FCC wants to eliminate any favoritism and discrimination, preventing the ISPs from slowing down or speeding up data based on what it is and who's sending it. The regulations would still allow ISPs to adjust some content to maintain the effectiveness of their network, provided they publicly disclose what they do.

The TSA continues its foolishness

With the recent terror plot foiled on the Delta/Northwest flight from Amsterdam to Detroit, let's see if our Homeland Security officials react sensibly or foolishly.   If their past actions are any example, I'm not hopeful. They seem to equate more rules and more harassment of the flying public with increased security. The logic they use is often incomprehensible.  

So here are some of the actions they are thought to be taking that make no sense and would not have foiled this recent incident. I say "thought to" because recent statements from Sec. Janet Napolitano that different measures will be taken at different times and different locations just adds to the confusion. That statement is second only to her instance on Meet the Press that the system worked as it was supposed to. Never mind that it allowed a terrorist with a bomb to board.

1.   Stay in your seats for the last hour of International flights. - The recent flight was over North American territory for a few hours before landing. A would-be terrorist will just make his move sooner. Or take a flight from the US to commit the crime during the first hour of the flight.

2.   Electronics restricted on some flights. - What good will that do? No electronics were used in this incident. It will just make the passengers more crotchety, more bored, and add lots of work for the flight attendants, when they'd be better off paying attention to those passengers with strange behavior.

Which suitcase is best? Peter Greenberg's ultimate luggage test

Watch CBS News Videos Online

Last minute travel gadgets

I’m always on the lookout for the perfect computer bag that’s designed to carry a notebook and all the other gadgets we lug along with it. For inveterate travelers it's a search that never ends. You think you've found it until the next clever one you stumble upon. Here are two products that are distinctive and unique enough to halt the search, at least for a little while.

Cargo Bag from Waterfield – This intelligently designed bag is one of the best I’ve come across for an all around case that’s light enough for travelling, yet with a surprising large capacity to carry most of your essentials. It has a large top-zippered compartment with lots of inside pockets and a front flap that unbuckles to reveal more pockets including a deep interior pocket  which can hold a pocket camera, and an e-book reader.

On the outside front flap is a huge zippered pocket for receipts, boarding passes and other items, including your phones and change when you pass through security. While the bag appears relatively slim, that’s deceiving, as it expands as you fill it up. The main compartment can hold a notebook, a set of Bose headphones in its case, and a couple of books, chargers, magazines and several files folders. What’s special about this bag is it’s made from quality, heavy duty materials with excellent workmanship, all made in San Francisco. You can choose different sizes and colors as well as the closure hardware-either an aluminum seatbelt buckle or a para-gliding harnesses buckle.

Each bag is made to order and delivered in a few days. Service and support are exceptional.  Optional accessories are available including a computer sleeve and case for wires and adapters. About $179; www.sfbags.com

Predictions for 2010 (San Diego Transcript column)

It's that time again to make some predictions about what we can expect in the world of consumer technology for 2010. It looks to me like a year in which we'll see all sorts of interesting and innovative technologies and products, particularly around touch, mobile and the cloud. First, a quick review of the predictions made this time last year.

Here's what I got right:

Motorola will introduce an important new phone running Google's Android OS and start on its road to recovery. (Its new Droid is off to a very successful start.)

We'll see 42-inch flat screen TVs for $499, 10 MP cameras for $199 and Touch screen iPods for less than $200.

There will be a focus on enhancements to GPS devices, with units displaying local traffic and Google street views.

There will be many more phones with Google's Android OS, surpassing the popularity of Windows Mobile and becoming the new open standard operating system for cell phones.

These were partly right:

Yahoo will be further downsized and its search and advertising business will be bought. (While the company was not bought, it did partner with Microsoft).

Microsoft will have one of its first major downsizings and will be promoting Windows 7 as a replacement to Vista, but it will not be released before the end of the year. (Microsoft actually introduced it in October.)

In January, Palm will announce its new operating system and a brand new phone that is very thin with a mechanical keyboard. (Correct, but we had to wait until June for the Pre.)

We'll see major initiatives from the new administration to bring wireless to more parts of the country and pressure for the cable and cellular companies to lower their rates for a broadband connection. (This has been slow to come, but expect it in 2010.)

There will be a rollout of electric charging stations and locations to swap batteries, starting in California. We'll see the announcement of all-electric affordable cars from Toyota and Honda. (No charging stations have been deployed yet, but Toyota did just announce an all-electric car for 2011.)

And these were wrong:

Microsoft will also introduce its first new phone that, one would hope, will not be called the Zune phone, a name synonymous with failure. No phone, just the same old Mobile 6.5.

We'll be hearing a lot about new battery technology for both notebooks and electric automobiles. (Still waiting while improvements are moving at glacial speeds.)

Apple will introduce a new tablet computer that looks like an oversized iPhone

Verizon will sell the iPhone and AT&T users will defect in droves. While there were plenty of problems with AT&T, Verizon and Apple have just not gotten together yet and made any announcements.

So, 4 right, 5 partially right, and 4 wrong: I'll score it a B!

Here are my predictions for 2010:

i for intermittent? (San Diego Transcript column)

 Verizon, in a series of TV ads, has been challenging AT&T's spotty cell phone coverage and propensity for dropped calls. In case you missed it, Verizon claims it has five times the 3G coverage of AT&T, exclaiming "There's a map for that!",  a parody of AT&T's and Apple's iPhone ads "There's an app for that."  It's been Verizon’s most effective counter punch yet to AT&T's success with the iPhone.

AT&T sued, claiming that the ad implies its non-3G (slower network) coverage was equally deficient, something the ad never mentioned.  AT&T eventually dropped the lawsuit, but not before the point was made and AT&T's vulnerability was broadcast to millions.

And just this past week, Consumer Reports published its annual survey of cell phone service across the United States. It was based on surveying subscribers in 25 cities, looking at coverage, busy circuits, dropped calls and static. The results were devastating to AT&T. In 19 of the 25 cities, including San Diego, AT&T came in dead last. Verizon finished first in all cities.

Barnes & Noble nook

 The Barnes & Noble nook e-book reader was introduced today with demo units available at their stores nationwide. A number of reviews were posted this morning and the overall consensus is that the nook is a formidable competitor to Amazon's Kindle. Here are three reviews that provide a balanced assessment of this exciting new product: Brighthand, Slashgear, Technologizer

Holiday Tech Gifts (San Diego Transcript column)

Holiday shopping is now in full swing, so to help your searching, I've assembled a selection of products, all of which I've tried.

Under $50

 Snap Circuits -- Elenco's Snap Circuits is an educational kit for children, 8- to 12-years-old, that teaches basic electronics by snapping together individual modules. Kids can build a radio, an audio recorder, a doorbell and other devices without the use of tools. Elenco is an Illinois company founded by two engineers that makes a variety of educational products that have won numerous awards. (Elenco.com, from $24.)

The Brookstone catalog and stores have expanded their offerings, more than filling the gap left by the demise of The Sharper Image. They offer some unusual gifts not generally found elsewhere. One of my favorites is its Wireless Key Finder ($50) that adds a little fob to your key ring or other device. Should you misplace it, press the button on the main unit and the fob will emit a loud sound. Comes with 2 fobs.

 Another new product is the Brookstone-labeled Dexim P-Flip, a combination battery and stand for the iPhone. It doubles the battery life as well as props up the iPhone to watch movies. Great for airplane travel. $50. (brookstone.com)

Vinturi Wine Aerator -- As you pour your wine through the clear acrylic funnel into a wine glass, it mixes with just the right amount of air to aerate it, much like using a decanter. In blind testing the differences were noticeable, particularly with young wines. (vinturi.com, $39 at most wine stores.)

Levenger Grid-It Organizer -- This cleverly designed panel helps organize your small electronic gadgets and cables using criss-crossed elastic bands. Holds adapters, cords, thumb drives, earphone and iPods. Comes in several sizes to fit any size travel bag. (levenger.com, $15-$25)

Toss your iPhone?

Now it's official. The iPhone is a terrible phone. Most users, particularly on the West coast, have come to the realization that the poor service from AT&T makes using the phone a real pain. Poor connectivity and a huge number of dropped calls plague most of us. Consumer Reports, in their January issue, found AT&T to come in dead last in nearly all of the cities across the US for poor phone service, particularly dropped calls. My experience in San Diego and most cities I visit (LA, NY, Chicago, etc.) reflects the same thing. It's gotten so bad that I'm getting dropped calls on almost half the calls I make. I can start out with a strong signal and the call may still drop with four bars showing. Or the four bars goe to one while I'm remaining in one location. A dropped call has now become synonymous with the iPhone. While AT&T blames the problem on the huge sale of iPhones and the high data usage from them, that's really no excuse. AT&T needs to fix things fast. What I find surprising is when I speak to AT&T and Apple, each profess surprise, as if they've not heard of a problem. AT&T offered to change my SIM card, saying it might be defective.

I've been using a Motorola Droid on Verizon and the improvement in call quality is like day and night.  No dropped calls and much clearer conversations. My experience with Sprint's Palm Pre has been similar.

My advice is if you want an iPhone, think twice and see if an iPod Touch will suffice for most of your needs. Then buy a phone from Verizon or Sprint for making calls.

Barnes & Noble's nook ebook reader (display) at the Harvard Coop

 

The Big Green Egg (San Diego Transcript column)

 Each year at this time I review a kitchen or cooking gadget. Last year I reviewed a clever toaster from Breville with buttons labeled "a Bit More" and "Lift and Look."

The previous year I tested a terrific espresso machine, the Vibiemme from 1st-line.com. But it's been a costly ritual for me, because my wife, Jane, liked the toaster so much that she bought one and I bought the Vibiemme, because I couldn't bear to go back to store-bought cappuccinos.

This year I chose to review one of the most interesting cooking gadgets I've ever come across -- and something I already purchased. It's called the Big Green Egg, a wood-fired smoker and barbecue grill in one. While the product has been available for years, it's become a recent sensation with sales soaring in comparison to the flat sales of gas grills.

AT&T does the right thing

While traveling in Asia I used my iPhone much more freely than usual for email and going on line to check news, blogs, etc. I resigned myself to face the large data charges for this one trip. Sure enough, a week into the trip I received a text message from AT&T telling me I've accumulated very high data charges and to call them on a toll-free number. I was ready for the shock. The agent said I've accumulated $300 of charges for the week's use. But then he told me I could sign up for a $60 data plan for 50 MB of data that would more than cover what I used. And surprisingly he said it is retroactive and would cover these recent charges and could be turned off upon my return home. That's a great way to handle this situation, and I hope it's a policy applied to all of their customers all the time. Of course a preferable solution is to have much more reasonable data charges.

Best products of 2009 (San Diego Transcript)

Thousands of new gadgets are introduced each year, but few rise above blandness and mediocrity. The list below represents some of the best products among the several hundred I've tried this year. Each represents excellence in design and performance, a good value, and stands apart from competitive offerings.

Toshiba mini NB200 netbook - While Toshiba is late to the netbook market than many of its competition, the NB200 is a product worth waiting for.  It has a near full-size keyboard, a rarity on netbooks. It weighs three pounds, gets more than five hours of real battery life, and has the highest environmental ranking for a PC. Its three USB ports remain on when the lid is closed making it a portable charger, as well. Best of all, it's shipping with Windows 7.(Toshiba.com, $350).

Novatel MiFi - A stand-alone wireless card, sold by Sprint and Verizon, it combines 3G and Wi-Fi into a credit card-size device that provides a Wireless hotspot wherever you go. It allows up to five devices to be wirelessly connected to a 3G network and eliminates the need to install drivers in your devices. I use it with my notebook and iPhone, and share it with others in meetings. $100 plus $60/mo. sprint.com and verizon.com.

TripIt  Pro -The TripIt Pro app for computers and smart phones brings organization to all of your travel plans, making it a must for frequent business travelers. Simply forward your confirmations from airlines, rental car companies and hotels, and TripIt organizes each trip, adds the items to your calendar and provides you with timely reminders. (Tripit.com, $49/year)

Plantronics Voyager Pro Bluetooth headset - Among the dozens of Bluetooth headsets I've tried, the Pro is one of the very few that gets just about everything right.  It provides very good clarity at both ends of the conversation, has a long battery life  and is comfortable, even when worn all day long. Its controls are easy to use and understand, and it uses a standard micro USB charger.  (Plantronics.com, $99)

Windows 7 - This long awaited new Windows operating system puts Vista users out of their misery and brings a new level of usability to all PCs.  It's an example of where less is more: fewer interruptions, annoyances and quirks. It's the first Windows OS that should give Apple some pause. If there's one complaint it's that there are too many versions, complicating what should be a simple purchase. (Microsoft.com, about $120.)

Motorola's exciting new Droid phone (San Diego Transcript)

Motorola's new Droid phone from Verizon is an exciting new smart phone that will exceed most expectations of those that buy it. While it has a number of elements similar to the iPhone, it has many unique features that chart new territory. It's a phone that's greater than the sum of its parts.

Yes, it has a touch screen, a fast processor, and runs the Android operating system like a number of phones do, but it's hard to imagine how good it is without actually using it. It's a solid phone that feels great in the hand.  Turn it on and you'll be looking at the highest resolution screen on any phone.  Text looks better than a printed page, and Web browsing is better than on any phone, helped by Verizon's 3G network. As you navigate between applications and screens, the switching is nearly instantaneous - with a lightning bolt-like precision.

The killer app is its built in navigation software using Google Maps that provides turn-by-turn directions with voice prompts that speak street names, albeit with a Droid-like voice. It's far better than most personal navigators in that the maps are continually updated; it displays live traffic and you have a choice of navigating using street maps or satellite views. (It's the first navigator that I've used that shows the new bypass on I-5 between Sorrento Valley Rd and I-56.)  

Glaser Designs new Website

Myron Glaser and his wife Kari make some of the world's best briefcases and luggage in their San Francisco workshop. They've just gone live with their new Website that tries to do justice to their products. But, in reality, the products have to be seen to be appreciated. Their sales approach is quite unusual. Look over the Website and then call them on Skype for a face-to-face discussion about your needs. They'll fit the product to your needs and sell you only what you need. Most remarkably these products last for decades and cost less than the designer brands that wear out in a year or two.

Navigating with your cell phone (San Diego Transcript column)

Just a few years ago, handheld personal navigation devices (PNDs) from Garmin, TomTom and Magellan were all the rage. But no company in high-tech can rest on last year's product. PNDs that were $300 just two years ago are less than $150 today and some may be selling for as little as $49 by Christmas.

What's caused the prices to plummet? Software and cell phones. There are a slew of apps for iPhones, Blackberrys and other phones that offer much of the same functionality for a lot less money. Cell phone apps also offer the convenience of having it with you wherever you go, and always being connected for up-to-date information. These apps cost $3-$10 per month or from $35 to $100 for a one-time purchase.

I've been trying a number of navigation products for cell phones. Most are for iPhones, but a few make apps for the Blackberry.

Co-Pilot

This is a full navigation app for the iPhone with detailed maps in 2-D and 3-D for the United States and Canada. The maps are stored on your iPhone, rather than downloaded as needed, a practice followed by some apps. That means, in theory, you can still get instructions if you lose cellular strength. It has a clear user interface, text-to-speech, and provides accurate directions most of the times.

Charging plates: A new way to charge your devices (San Diego Transcript)

Accompanying all of the elegant portable devices we use are inelegant ways of keeping them charged; ugly power adapters that seem like afterthoughts, tangled wires and never enough outlets. That has spawned all sorts of creations, from chargers with multiple tips to power strips with rotating sockets, to charging stands that accommodate multiple devices.

One of the most promising solutions, in theory at least, was shown several years ago at the Consumers Electronics Show. It was a flat rectangular plate that you drop your devices onto and they magically charge using magnetic induction (similar to how some electric toothbrushes charge). But for it to catch on, it required many manufacturers to standardize on the same technology, something that never happened. The concept languished until Palm developed the Touchstone, a small pedestal on which you set a Palm Pre, held in place by magnets. Induction transmits power from the pedestal to the Pre.

 Now, several companies have introduced systems that offer some of the same convenience to all of your devices. Each system consists of a flat plate and add-ons to the devices that bring connections from their charging ports to the plate.

I've been trying out two products, the Powermat from powermat.com and WildCharge (shoppureenergy.com). They each use different technology, but they work in similar ways.
Each system offers add-on cases for the iPhone, BlackBerrys and a few other popular devices that enable the connection between the phone and the plate. For other products, they provide an add-on pad with a cable that plugs into the charging port of the device. You lay the case or pad on the plate to begin charging.

2009: The year e-book readers take off (San Diego Transcript column)

One of the hottest new products this year is the e-book reader. While sales numbers pale in significance to smart phones and computers, in a year during which most product sales are flat or down, eReader sales are experiencing growth of nearly 100 percent. This year's sales will reach close to three million units, made up mostly of products from Amazon and Sony.

With e-book readers, the consumer is buying into an e-book ecosystem, not just a device. The number of books available and how they are downloaded can be as important as the device itself. This is why Amazon's Kindle has outsold the Sony Reader by 2 to 1. Amazon has a huge e-book store, while Sony has far fewer books, and often charges more for what they do have. In addition, most of Sony's models require loading from a PC or Mac.

Barnes & Noble Nook

Barnes & Noble announced their Nook ebook reader today at an event in NYC. It's about the same size as the Amazon Kindle, but has a much more intuitive user interface that's controlled from a color touch screen, about the same size as an iPhone. It has an advanced 6-inch black and white e-ink screen for reading books, and a 3G connection and WiFi for near-instant downloads. Nook owners can walk into any Barnes&Noble store and have immediate access to free eboks, announcements and access to entire books while in the store. Barnes&Noble's online bookstore will carry over 1 million ebooks. Once you buy a book you'll also be able to lend it to a friend.  William Lynch, president of BN.com, said the product would cost $259 and be shipping in November. Check out this video here and get more information at www.nook.com. Orders are now being taken on their Website and the first 10,000 get the popular Outliers ebook free.

Should your next computer have a touch screen? (San Diego Transcript column)

When Microsoft introduced the tablet notebook eight years ago, Bill Gates heralded it as the future of computing. It would be used to take notes and translate them into text, let you read and annotate documents and books, and offer much more versatility than a laptop. In 2001, Gates predicted that within five years, "the tablet PC will be the most popular form of PC sold in America."

But tablet computers -- notebooks with a touch screen that fold into a tablet -- turned out to be a big flop, filling just a tiny niche market in medical, insurance and a few other business areas. The products were heavy and expensive, and the promise of handwriting recognition failed to deliver.

But several events have occurred since then that may make a touch screen computer much more useful and something worth considering in your next purchase.

Livescribe expands models and adds app store

Livescribe announced today the expansion of its line-up of award-winning Pulse smartpens, the computer in a pen that digitally captures and syncs handwriting and audio. This has been one of my favorite gadgets that works well, saves times, and is a genuinely unique product with nothing like it from any other company.

There's now a 4GB and 2GB model in a titanium color. The 4GB model holds more than 400 hours of recorded audio and provides ample storage for consumers to add applications such as, entertainment, education and productivity tools to their smartpen when Livescribe launches its Application Store later this year. The 4GB Pulse smartpen has a retail price of $199.95 and the 2GB model is $169.95.

Bluetooth headsets - beware

For some reason I've been inundated with Bluetooth headsets to review. Perhaps it's because they are so easy to make, with all-in-one chips dropping in price and companies just assembling a few pieces like Lego blocks. But a few samples I've received such as the iTech Solar Voice 905 still use a proprietary connector, and not a standard USB one. Worse, it looks similar to a micro USB. Why is this bad? It means if you lose the adapter, your others won't work and you'll need to buy a special in-car adapter if you want to charge from your car. In addition it's anti-environmental because it means the adapters cannot be used for anything else and will eventually end up as landfill when you change headsets. It's just disrespect for the customer. So if you're in the market for a new headset be sure it uses either a micro or mini USB connector.

Windows 7: A huge improvement over Vista (San Diego Transcript column)

Oct. 22 will be a big day for Microsoft, the computer industry and users, alike. It's the day that the much-anticipated Windows 7 formally goes on sale. It's a much-needed product that's intended to replace Vista and XP.

Microsoft introduced Vista in January 2007 as a replacement for XP, but after nearly three years it has just 19 percent of the personal computer market, contrasted with XP at 72 percent. While Vista offered a more attractive interface and improved security, it ran slow, constantly interrupted users, required more powerful hardware and was incompatible with some hardware. As I wrote in this column a few months after its introduction:

"(Vista) was a huge undertaking, some estimate costing $10 billion, that was years late and shipped with less than half the original features promised. It will likely be remembered as one of the biggest product failures of recent times, because it's slow, bloated and still doesn't work with some hardware. While improvements are being made, it's already so badly tarnished that corporate users have shunned it and Microsoft is now talking about a successor, Windows 7."

I've been testing Windows 7 on two computers, a Dell XPS notebook that I upgraded from Vista, and a Lenovo X200 tablet notebook with Windows 7 preinstalled.

Office on Wheels: New Rolling Briefcases for Business Travelers (Part 2 updated)

Part 1 covered Briggs & RIley and Skooba Design. This second part reviews  the Victorinox Swiss Army Rolling Parliament case, the Hartmann Aviator Leather Large Wheeled Expandable Brief, and the Tumi Wheeled Deluxe Brief With Computer Insert. I've taken each on a few usiness trips, so my comments are based on actual use.

Tumi Wheeled Deluxe Expandable Briefcase With Computer Insert

This large ballistic nylon bag on wheels is a classic Tumi design, measuring 13.5" x 17.5" x 8.5" and costing $550.  It has  the familiar double inverted U-pockets in the front, convenient for holding loose items, pens business cards, a phone and small camera. They  allow quick retrieval of small items, since they're accessed from the front. There's also a full width open pocket behind the U-pockets for newspapers and papers. The bag has large front and rear compartments with dividers and 

Audi Q5: A luxury SUV full of the latest gadgets (San Diego Transcript column)

If you're searching for a car with some of the most advanced gadgetry and state of the art technology, the Audi Q5 should be near the top of your list. That's my conclusion after spending a week with this superb 2010 model. The Q5 is Audi's luxury compact SUV that's built on the A4 platform. Its higher center of gravity provides the driver with a commanding view while still retaining the sports car performance that the Audi A4 is known for.

No matter how many features a product has, if you can't figure out how to use them, they're not very useful. But Audi has that covered as well: The Q5 is the first Audi model to get a new generation of its Multi-Media Interface system (MMI), an advanced user interface for controlling many of the car's multimedia, communications and operations.

AT&T opens up Skype on iPhone's 3G

Josh Silverman, President of Skype, issued the following statement regarding AT&T’s announcement today that it has taken the steps necessary so that Apple can enable VoIP applications on the iPhone to run over AT&T’s 3G wireless network:

 

“Since launching our iPhone application six months ago, consumers have downloaded and installed Skype on 10% of all iPhone and iPod touch devices sold. This clearly demonstrates that our customers are extremely interested in taking Skype conversations with them on the go on the iPhone. We applaud today’s announcement by AT&T to open up its 3G network to Internet calling applications such as Skype. It is the right step for AT&T, Apple, millions of mobile Skypers and the Internet itself. Nonetheless, the positive actions of one company are no substitute for a government policy that protects openness and benefits consumers and we look forward to further innovations that will enable even more mobile Skype calling.” (Thanks, Chaim!)

DEMO Conference showcases more than 70 new products (San Diego Transcript column)

DEMO, the conference that showcases new technology products for business and consumers, offered up more than 70 companies to the press, investors and technology executives in San Diego this past week. Many of the companies were here looking for funding and some of the products are still at the idea stage. If there was one prevailing trend, it's how many are being developed to work on the iPhone and making it the new platform for pocket computing. Here are some of the most interesting ones.

Liaise
Liaise is a powerful add-in for Outlook that follows your incoming and outgoing e-mail, searching for certain phrases and words, and then provides summaries and reminders of follow up action, to dos, and

100 days with the Palm Pre (San Diego Transcript column)

Early reviews of a new product capture the features and first experiences. But often those first impressions turn to disappointment as the novelty wears off and the flaws begin to surface. After using the Palm Pre for 100 days, I thought a more detailed review was in order.

New wireless accessories (San Diego Transcript column)

Wires are out and wireless is in. It's obvious by the hundreds of new wireless devices introduced each month. Wires get tangled, limit movement and can be a nuisance. But wireless products also have their own problems. They need to be powered and charged (meaning more wires), and sometimes their performance suffers.

Here’s a roundup of some of the newest wireless gadgets that I’ve been trying out. There’s a new cell phone headset that does the near-impossible, a cordless speaker for your audio device, a new cordless speakerphone for the car that listens, and an office headset that frees your hands and lets you roam while talking.

Why so many consumer products are made in China

Many wonder why so many consumer products are made in China. It's not only low cost labor.

Noted journalist James Fallows notes in a short video that "there are a lot of places with much cheaper wage rates than China now. The Chinese advantage over such places -- Cambodia, Bangladesh, much of Africa --  is the combination of relatively cheap labor and absolutely superb production infrastructure. Ports, industrial zones, highways headed to airports, whatever else it takes."

Pentax introduces new affordable, feature-rich Pentax K-x

Pentax has just announced a brand new entry-level digital SLR camera, the  K-x digital SLR, simultaneously in New York and Tokyo. I covered the New York debut and had a chance to try out the new product and it felt as good as it looks.  This latest entry level DSLR camera offers high-end features including Live View and HD video.  The K-x will be available in a choice of white and black, as well as special, limited edition red and navy. In a real life market test a previous model in all white sold out quickly, particularly in CA, NY, OR and WA. 

Priced at $649.95 USD (for body with DA L 18-55mm lens), the K-x replaces the K2000.   Its small size offers one-handed shooting design and simple, easy-to-use operation, the K-x is designed to be a step up from a point and shoot digital camera. Like the recently introduced professional K-7, this is much smaller than comparable offerings and has a broad range of new features:

Who is the low priced airline? United or Southwest?

I needed to make a reservation for a RT flight from San Diego to SFO for the day, six days from now. Southwest, who I've use regularly for years, has always offered the most competitive rates, typically $110 to $180 rt. But today the best fare I could find from them was $270. I checked United and the cost was just $99. Not sure the significance of this , but it did get me to return to United for the first time in nearly a year and to check United's fare from now on.

Rolling briefcases: An office on wheels (San Diego Transcript column)

Even though computers are getting smaller and lighter, we seem to be dragging more and more stuff with us. That's made the rolling briefcase one of the most popular pieces of travel luggage. Fully loaded they can weigh 25 to 35 pounds, but can be easily pulled through airports and offices.

I've been trying out new models from Briggs & Riley (briggs-riley.com) and Skooba Design (skoobadesign.com), each released this past month. These rolling briefcases carry a laptop along with books, papers and all your accessories; essentially your office on wheels.

Briggs & Riley

Briggs & Riley makes a huge line of roller bags with 10 models to choose from. I've been trying the 15.4-inch Executive Expandable Rolling Brief ($369) and the 15.4-inch Multicase ($399). Both are slightly narrower than previous models and are designed to hold a 15-inch notebook. (A wider 17-inch version of the Expandable is available for $20 more).

The designs of each are similar. There's a front zippered section with 15 organizing pockets of all shapes and sizes for phones, chargers, cords, pens, receipts, keys, USB sticks and DVDs. There's also a small zippered horizontal pocket on the outside front for a boarding pass, passport and receipts, and a larger slash pocket with a magnetic closure for newspapers or last minute paperwork.

The wireless tangle (San Diego Transcript column)

It's no secret that cell providers have tried for years to control what features are on our phones in order to maximize their revenue.

Some carriers have removed WiFi, fearing we'd use it to make VOIP calls. GPS mapping has been disabled so we'd have to subscribe to a navigation service, and some carriers made it impossible to move photos directly onto our computer, forcing us to send them over the air for a fee. While maximizing revenue in a free market is a company's prerogative and a worthy goal, it's questionable when it's done in a controlled market that uses licensed airways, on phones that we own.

LogMeIn Ignition: View and control any computer from your iPhone

This amazing app for the iPhone gives you a window into any computer, wherever it is in the world. You can run applications, access files, or do whatever you do from the computer itself all from the iPhone.
Load the app onto your iPhone and software to the computers you want to access. Then sign in on the iPhone and you'll see the desktop. It works with both PCs and Macs. It's also a great way to troubleshoot a friend's computer. It offers a secure interface and double password protection. It's been one of the top rated apps on the iTunes store.
$30. (logmein.com)

Apple's Snow Leopard Upgrade - Hold off for now

In spite of reports of this being a smooth upgrade for Macs,there is a bug that alters the Address Book file on some computers. I also discovered it on my MacBook Pro and iMac after being alerted by a friend with the same problem: 

"No name" appears in the list view of many of my contacts that were originally entered with " Company" checked. (Meaning the listing was requested to be by company name rather than by a person's name.) Fixing requires going into each entry and rechecking "Company". 

So if you are an Address Book user, I'd recommend waiting for an update from Apple before upgrading.

The Updating Game

There was a time when people in search of a full and meaningful life were advised to start off each morning by telling themselves: “Every day, in every way, I’m getting better and better.” Now, we get up and hear: “Updates are ready for your computer.”

This is a terrific piece from Gail Collins in the New York Times.

Back to school time gadgets (San Diego Transcript)

It's that time of year again, as students head back to college. Here are 14 useful tech products that provide both good value and good design.

Logitech's Rechargeable Speaker S315i -- This is one of the most attractive stereo speakers that sounds very good for the price. Plug it in or use its built-in rechargeable batteries for 12 hours of playing away from an outlet. (Logitech.com, $130)

Pandigital Photo Frame -- Just to remind them of their roots, give your departing college students a photo frame with family photos loaded onto it. Prices have been plummeting and a decent 7-inch model from Pandigital costs about $50. (Pandigital.net)

FreeAgent Go backup hard drive -- is an inexpensive but durable drive from Seagate (about $80 for 250