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 bookstores everywhere. Also available for the Kindle. From Financial Times Press.  What others are saying:

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

Techdirt Book Reading List 2009: Concept to Consumer

 

I'm pleased to note that "From Concept to Consumer" was selected to be on Techdirt's 2009 reading list. Techdirt is one of my must-read blogs each day. It's full of insightful stories and opinion that covers government policy, technology and legal policy and how it relates to innovation. It sheds light on some of the challenges companies have in adopting to new technologies, along with numerous examples of those that get it right and others that haven't a clue.  Techdirt has received Best of the Web thought leader awards from Business Week and Forbes and has nearly a million subscribers.

Pentax's K-7: A superb new DSLR (San Diego Transcript)

Six years ago, the dream was to build a digital SLR (DSLR) camera that could rival the results of a film camera. Today there's a wide assortment of cameras that do just that starting at about $600.

But the manufacturers of DSLRs -- Canon, Nikon, Pentax and others -- haven't stopped at equivalency. Their latest products go well beyond, offering resolutions of 12, 15 and even more megapixels, larger sensors and new capabilities built into the cameras that take advantage of the digital nature of the image. They have the ability to make poster-size prints and alter the color balance, exposure, sensitivity and resolution with the turn of a dial. In fact, the features are so extensive that these cameras come with 300-page instruction books.

The challenge: Disconnected for 48 hours (San Diego Transcript)

Some of us have a problem of being so immersed in our work that it's hard to get away. Blackberrys, iPhones and portable computers allow us to be reached via phone, e-mail and instant messaging wherever we are, at any time, night or day. For some, myself included, staying connected has become an addiction.

When at home, I spend several hours online each day reading and writing e-mails and surfing a few dozen Web sites and blogs that cover news, gadgets, technology and the tech industry. But it's not as if I'm using that time wisely. I find myself checking for e-mail every few minutes, somehow worrying that I'll miss something important. Or I'll surf to a site and come back 30 minutes later looking for something new, which rarely occurs.

This addiction to stay connected stretches to the times when doing it is impolite: in the middle of a meeting or while out for dinner with friends or family. You fear that if you don't answer the phone or respond to an e-mail right away you'll either forget or that others will think less of you.

Skooba's new checkthrough roller bag

Skooba Design has introduced their new  “checkpoint-friendly” rolling laptop/business case. It opens and hinges in the middle to separate and isolate the laptop compartment from the rest of the bag. The design of the laptop compartment is such that the image presented to the screener is the same as if the laptop were removed and placed in a bin.  

The case rolls on urethane skate wheels mounted to aluminum wheel guard brackets, pulled along by a heavy-duty retractable handle. Skooba says that the roller is among the lightest rolling cases in its category, capacity and feature-set, and that it fits in all major airline storage spaces. Unlike many cases of this size that are full of dividers that make it difficult to carry items of substantial thickness, this case has room for a large stack of files and papers, an overnight’s worth of clothing and travel necessities and an SLR camera. There are 18 pockets for organizing your gadgets and holding tickets, passports and receipts. The roller is $190 at www.skoobadesign.com

Can A Tiny Company Compete With A Huge One?

(This is an article I wrote for Yanko Design, my favorite Website that covers innovative designs.)

I spent the first sixteen years of my career working for Polaroid Corporation starting out as a design engineer. It was one of the most progressive and technology-aware companies of the time. It was a wonderful place to develop a strong foundation, working with smart people, strong support and plenty of money to do things right. I had access to designers, quality and manufacturing experts, patent attorneys, model shops and market research, not to mention a great brand name and the excellent benefits that provided lots of stability.

Hotel reservations from your iPhone

A new Apple app, HotelPal, brings US hotel bookings to your iPhone. The just released free app, available from the iTunes store, enables travelers to search, browse and book from millions of hotel rooms while on the go. Hotels are searchable by city, zip or current GPS location, and will be expanded within days to search by map location and city areas. Upcoming versions will include international support and improved search functionality. Each hotel listing contains photos, amenities, descriptions and rates. Built-in Google Maps helps you pinpoint their locations.

I’ve been trying out a pre-release version and have found that HotelPal makes it easy and enjoyable to find the right hotel in the right location and for the right price. I’ve found the rates to be similar to online rates found on most of the major travel sites. Speaking of on-line travel sites, this is an app I would have expected to see from the big travel sites such as Expedia and Orbitz, but small and nimble has won. HotelPal uses Travelocity for their booking partner.

HotelPal comes from Mobiata, the same company that developed FlightTrack and FlightTrack Pro, two of the best selling travel apps on the iPhone store and previously reviewed on this blog.

Ford Fusion: A look at its technology and gadgetry (San Diego Transcript)

Ford's new Fusion is one of America's first serious answers to Toyota's hybrid models, specifically targeting the Camry Hybrid. I spent a few days with one to try out its new gadgetry.
The Fusion Hybrid is a solid, mid-sized sedan that looks a lot like the latest sedans from Acura, Hyundai and Toyota. Inside it's well finished; not elegant, but tastefully done without the poor fit and cheap materials so often found on other domestic models.

But in other ways it's far from conventional. It has a very effective hybrid system that runs smoothly as it shifts between the electric motor and gasoline engine. It has a huge travel range of 600 miles

New Sonos controller

Sonos, the maker of terrific wireless in-room music systems, recently launched a powerful yet simple-to-use music controller for the home. The Sonos Controller 200 ($349) is a handheld device slightly larger than an iPhone. It lets you access thousands of music sources, including Internet radio, Pandora, Rhapsody and your iTunes library, and directs the content to individual Sonos music devices in multiple rooms. You can play different sources in each room or the same source throughout the home.

In a quick test I was able to locate and stream reggae music from a Jamaican radio station and classical music from a Boston station in seconds. The device is simple to use and beautifully styled, like other Sonos components. I'll be doing a full review of the Sonos multi-room music system in an upcoming column. Sonos also has a free application in the Apple app store that provides similar functionality and includes a demo of its highly regarded system.

New Pentax Optio P80 for $200

PENTAX Imaging Company has announced the the ultra-slim PENTAX Optio P80 digital camera features a lightweight design with loads of features including:

•    12.1 megapixel CCD for detailed images, large prints, and cropping flexibility.
•    4X wide angle optical zoom is equivalent to 27.5-110mm focal length.
•    2.7 inch LCD with 230,000 dot resolution for accurate composition and playback of still images and video.

Pentax K-7 Road Tour

I'm in the midst of testing a couple of new DSLR cameras including the Pentax K-7. Pentax takes a different approach from its competition with this new model. It's smaller yet more robust than its competition. To best appreciate it, you need to see, hold, and try it. Pentax just announced a Road Tour to allow you to do just that. Here are the details: 

Cellular providers get caught

David Pogue of the NY Times has started a welcome crusade against the cellular providers, Verizon, Sprint, T-Mobile and AT&T, for requiring us to listen to long messages before leaving a voicemail. The purpose, of course, is to add to their revenue, while we need to suffer the cost, time, and inanity of being told to hang up after leaving a message and press a button to page (Page? Who pages?). You can read more details here as well as learn how to bypass them and registering your own protest.

Hello Apple? FCC calling: FCC investigates Apple's control over the iPhone

The FCC has opened an investigation on Apple's refusal to allow apps on the iPhone that let users of Google Voice perform a variety of functions, including making free or less expensive calls. The FCC sent letters to Google, AT&T and Apple asking a series of detailed questions. When it was learned earlier in the week that Apple turned down the Google and several 3rd party apps that benefit consumers, but perhaps not Apple and AT&T, it raised a huge protest among iPhone users that questioned whether AT&T and Apple

'On the Road Again': Gadgets to take with you when traveling (San Diego Transcript)

Traveling this summer? Here are some recently introduced gadgets, designed for use while on the road.

MiFi 2200 card -- a hotspot that follows you everywhere
The MiFi 2200 card is a new product available from Sprint and Verizon that creates a Wi-Fi hotspot wherever you go. Instead of searching for a coffee shop, you just turn on this credit card-sized device to provide a Wi-Fi connection for up to five computers or other devices. The MiFi contains a high-speed modem that connects to a 3G cellular data network and then connects to your device using Wi-Fi. It works up to a 30-foot radius.

The Novatel product has a rechargeable battery and works for three to four hours between charges connected to a single computer. It charges using a supplied USB charger, but not from my computer's USB port using a connecting cable. It does function while charging.

TripIt: Help arrives for the frequent traveler (San Diego Transcript)

I'm leaving on a business trip and taking with me a neatly printed list of all of the trip details, including flight itinerary, rental car and hotel information, directions to my hotel, and phone numbers for everything. I also have the list on my computer and iPhone with links to even more details.

Did my travel agent or travel department prepare this? Not a chance; I make my own reservations. Credit goes to a new software service called TripIt (tripit.com).

TripIt offers a new way to help you manage all of your travels. It's particularly suited for the business traveler who is traveling several times a month and needs a way to keep the details of each trip organized and easily accessible. TripIt comes in two versions, a basic and a Pro. I tried out the Pro version.

Will the new iPods break AT&T's hold on the iPhone?

My friend Andy Abramson speculates that the new iPods due out this Fall will make them substitutes for the iPhone using apps such as Trufone and Skype over a WiFi connection.  I think he's on to something, but there's even more possibilities. 

I've been testing out the new MiFI 2200 Card from Sprint and Verizon that provides a portable hotspot anywhere by connecting through the carrier's 3G network. So imagine carrying both the iPhone and MiFi and being able to make unlimited calls over Sprint or Verizon's networks, bypassing AT&T!

New San Jose airport wing opens: Avoid it!

The first six gates of the new Terminal B Concourse at Mineta San Jose International Airport (SJC) opened yesterday and I flew in today.

The terminal is expansive, modern and really beautiful, but is fatally flawed for the moment. To get to the gates requires about a 1/4 mile walk from the security area that's still back in the old terminal C.  No moving belts, no help for the elderly. Plan on at least 15 minutes to reach your gates.  I spoke with a Southwest employee - it was his 2nd day there - and he said they will be moving security to reduce the long walk... in about a year, as he shook his head in amazement.

And there were more problems.  Lines in the men's room. I encountered a line of about 8 people out of the men's room near Gate 21. Why? Only 4 urinals. And don't try to buy food or coffee. Just a single sports bar is open; nothing else.

iPettiness reflects poorly on Apple

UPDATE: Palm has just updated their software that restores the ability to sync with iTunes.
Apple has come out with a new version of iTunes that specifically prevents the Palm Pre from syncing with it. It's petty and reinforces Apple's reputation of being a bully. As an Apple user and advocate it's disappointing to see. You can read more about this "iPettiness" on TechDirt, an excellent blog that covers technology and legal issues.

New Audio-Technical ATH-ANC7b noise reducing headphones

When my daughter asked me to recommend noise reducing headphones, the obvious answer was one of the Bose models that sell for $300 and $350. But knowing, from the research I did for my book, From Concept to Consumer, these products have a huge markup, about 10 times cost!

So I did some investigating and discovered Audio-Technica's ATH-ANC7 model. There were close to a thousand reviews on Amazon, most of them 5 stars, and it was their number one selling product in the category. Best of all it was selling for about $150 (list price $219). In a side by side test with a Bose unit, it performed slightly better for noise reduction, but was not quite as comfortable. I bought one for my daughter and one for myself. . 

Is AOL ripping you off?

It seems that AOL has been charging many of their not-so-tech-savvy customers $10 to $15 per month for an AOL account, even though they went to a free service. They just chose not to remind their paying customers that they don't need to pay and continue to charge them. Read more about its here.

2010 Prius: A look at its technology (San Diego Transcript)

Some of the most interesting technology can be found on new cars. I recently drove the new 2010 Toyota Prius for a week to try out some of its new tech options.

I'll leave the analysis of its driving performance to the professional automotive reviewers, other than noting that it's a step up from previous Prius models I've driven: more spacious, more comfortable and more fun to drive. The bright red model with package V had the Advanced Technology Package (ATP) that added $4,500 to the base price. Sticker price was $33,079.

The ATP adds a bunch of acronym-laden extras: Dynamic Radar Cruise Control (DRCC), Pre-collision System (PCS), Lane-Keep Assistant (LKA), Intelligent Parking Assist (IPA), a voice-activated touch screen GPS navigation system, a more advanced audio package, hands-free phone capability and a backup camera.

Technology column gets broader distribution

I'm pleased to announce that my technology column now appears in The Jerusalem Post here.

Google Voice: Too good to be free? (San Diego Transcript)

Google has just made a long-awaited announcement that it will be opening up its Google Voice service to new customers.

What's Google Voice? It's a telephone service that provides a number of features to simplify your phone use. It started out as GrandCentral and was acquired by Google two years ago and redesigned over the intervening time.

The most significant feature provides you with a free local phone number that becomes your one and only number that you give out to others. When that number is called it rings your various phones -- home, cell and office -- all at once. When you pick up on one of the lines, the others stop ringing.

This offers a variety of benefits. Your friends and associates can reach you by dialing the one number rather than having to guess whether you are at home, in the office or out and about. No more need to hand out numbers and information about where you will be and when. And no further need to check your various voicemail accounts. It's a huge convenience for both you and the caller.

Summer games

Need to pass some time or decompress? Here are two games for the iPhone and iPod Touch that will keep you busy no matter how long that trip!

Astraware Solitaire

This addictive game, just released, has twelve of the most popular solitaire games, including Klondike (the solitaire game on PCs) with all its variations. Astraware distributes some of the best games such as Bejeweled 2 and Word Wrap, and this is in the same league, if you’re a solitaire fan. Polished, lots of depth, easy to learn, and lots of fun. 99 cents.

Flight Control

This is simple to learn but hard to master. Try landing aircraft onto runways and avoiding mid-air collisions. There’s a variety of aircraft, some flying slow, others, fast, all heading to different runways. The latest rev offers play on three different sets of runways. Another really addictive game that’s hard to put down. 99 cents.

Two powerful new laptops (San Diego Transcript)

  I've been trying out two new notebooks, each designed to pack powerful performance into a package that's thinner and lighter than many mainstream notebooks. They're not direct competitors with one another; one is a PC running Windows Vista and the other is a Mac. But each represents their makers' latest and best attempts at offering a desktop replacement that's ideal for traveling with extended battery life.

Lenovo ThinkPad T400s

The T400s morphs the thinness of Lenovo's breakthrough "thin and light" X300 with its older T400, incorporating a 14.1-inch display, a solid-state drive and a new mechanical design to keep it just 0.83 inches thick. A new carbon fiber mechanical structure provides exceptional rigidity and yet adds little weight. The T400s weighs just under four pounds, 20 percent lighter than the T400.

Google Voice now opening up

Google Voice, originally known as Grand Central, is one of the best free services available off the Web. It lets you give out a single phone number that when called rings all of your phones. Just pick up one phone and the others stop ringing. I've been using it close to two years and it makes everything much simpler for yourself and those trying to reach you. It does a lot more including archiving your calls and sending you an email transcription of calls you missed. Check it out here.