Known for creating the first wireless memory card for digital cameras, this iPhone application is a natural extension for Eye-Fi.

iPhone users can send photos to their computer or upload to one of 25 online photo sharing or social networking sites. Photos can also be automatically tagged with location information (geotag).

The application will be shown at Macworld, January 6-9, 2009. To learn more about this application or receive an email when it is available, go to www.eye.fi/macworld.

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I have always wanted a Porsche 911, and hope to own one before I die. Now, I must create a list; because the ITC One from SE2 Labs is number two on my (now) list of wants. The Porsche 911 is on my list because I enjoy driving, and going from point “A” to point “B” in a well-made vehicle is what I perceive true happiness to look and feel like. The ITC One was added as the number two item I would like to have because I enjoy good entertainment. Especially when it is a good movie, or the latest episode of NBC’s The Office.

The ITC One from SE2 Labs is a personalized, multi-function, home entertainment system. That’s right, a “system!” All of your components are built into one box making it the elite home entertainment system. This system can integrate the following components: Cable company DVR (Cox, Comcast, Time Warner, etc.), Game consoles (Microsoft X-Box 360, SONY Playstation, Nintendo Wii, etc.), Dish Network, Direct TV, High-End Video Processor, AMX Netlinx Control System, Bryston Pre-Amp Processor, Ice Power High-End D-Class Amplifiers, Power Conditioner, Apple Video iPod with Dock, all with a touch panel on the front. Check with your installer for all components, as the list is long.  read more »

Originally released in 1995 for the Super Nintendo by Squaresoft, Chrono Trigger received both critical acclaim and a cult-like popularity among gamers. It is undeniable that being created by the same company responsible for the immensely popular Final Fantasy series attributed to Chrono Trigger’s success. To think that is the sole purpose it flourished, however, would be to ignore the strengths it possesses: graphics which, at the time, were awe-inspiring, well developed and likeable characters, a novel plot, and, as with any RPG, plenty of side quests and customizability to keep you entertained for hours. If you didn’t enter the video game world until recently, or if RPGs have never been your forte, you may have missed this jewel.

In this masterpiece, you control Crono, a youth living in 1000AD in Guardia Kingdom. In a fair experiment that goes horribly wrong, you suddenly find yourself four hundred years in the past, having to work frantically to save a new friend! One thing leads to another, and before you get tired of playing, you visit your future and find out the world is facing certain devastation unless you alter history by time travel to save it. Although the “save the world from certain doom” plot is present, the addition of time travel (and, by extension, the fact that you know what will happen in the future) highlights the novelty of Chrono Trigger and the fact that you are “saving the world” feels a lot less hackneyed than you might originally expect.  read more »

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OnStar's Stolen Vehicle Slowdown technology has been introduced into 2009 Model Year vehicles. Approximately 30,000 high speed chases happen yearly and almost 300 deaths occur as a result. Now, General Motors and OnStar hope to improve safety on the road by introducing Stolen Vehicle Slowdown. This new technology allows police officers in pursuit of stolen vehicles to connect to Onstar and, once conditions are safe, remotely authorize the vehicle to slow down.

An extension of the already available Stolen Vehicle Location Assistance, this new service hopes to make the roadways even safer. Being introduced in nearly two million 2009 vehicles, Stolen Vehicle Slowdown is a favorite of the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration.  read more »

When digital photography came on the scene, I gave up on traditional film. I kept thousands of old 35mm negatives, however, and with the best of intentions, I bought a scanner and set about reproducing some of my favorites. I soon discovered that this is a very time-consuming process. After five or six years, I’ve little to show for my time and effort.

I investigated the cost of having my collection scanned commercially, but charges ranged from $1-$2 per negative. With 2000+ negatives lying around the house, I gave up on that idea. Local photo shops or drug stores could do the job for around $.75 each, but I’d have to sacrifice quality – they offer a totally mechanized operation. And, cost and quality issues aside, the thought of sorting through all those boxes to choose which pictures to scan was overwhelming. I wanted someone to organize my huge collection, scan my photos professionally, touch them up by hand if necessary – all at an affordable price. 

Believe it or not, such a place exists, and it’s called ScanCafe. A well-respected Wharton MBA named Sam Allen, along with several partners, has set up a high-tech, sophisticated method of scanning 35mm negatives – for 24 cents a pop! They use top-of-the-line Nikon and Kodak technology in the process. In an innovative take on outsourcing, ScanCafe has its own 175-person staff and facilities in India, where an Indian-born fellow Wharton graduate manages the operations on a day-to-day basis.  read more »

Maybe you're remodeling to optimize TV watching at home. Perhaps you're gearing up to secure virtual front-row seats to the “Big Game”. It's entirely possible that you're simply using the national conversion to 100-percent digital TV broadcasts at midnight on Feb. 17, 2009, as a good excuse to bring home a shiny, new high-definition TV.

Regardless of your motivation for the purchase, after eagerly unpacking your cherished widescreen DLP, LCD or plasma TV, you'll see there are many different options, tweaks and adjustments to make in pursuit of the best possible viewing experience. One oft-forgotten detail is how to use lighting in your media room or home theater.  read more »

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Phenom Communications brings us this "do everything" gadget. The Phenom Watch Phone is an unlocked GSM cell phone in a wrist watch package.

But they don't just have a basic version. There is a model for everybody, even a double-naught spy. From pink to black, kids to adult there are many to choose from. All versions have 2 hr talk time/120 hr standby and MP3 player using a micro-SD card. Some have a camera as well.

Control is by touchscreen with external buttons too. The SpecialOPS version has a keypad on the watch band. The fashionable Stylista also has external number keys. There is Bluetooth for use with a headset. It does have a built in microphone and speaker for that Dick Tracy style though. You can also transfer files via USB, which is convenient instead of requiring a separate card reader.

Pricing starts at $195. Check them all out at www.phenomwatchphone.com.

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As Apple continues to update its products it's no wonder that the iPod and the iPhone continue to headline around the tech world. With the release of the iPhone and the iPod Touch options where communication and portable media were concerned changed forever. With the recent updates to both the iPod line and the 3G iPhone, understanding both the features and fallbacks of each device becomes more important when it comes down to purchasing. The iPod Touch and the iPhone make look the same, but they're not.

Differences in Price

To start with the basics, there is always price. The iPhone comes in two models (with two color choices) 8GB and 16GB in either white or black. The 8GB sells for about $199 and the 16GB for $399. The real pricing trick comes with the obviously required AT&T service plan (that can usually go from $60 or above). As of right now there is no way around a two-year contract with AT&T.  read more »

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Last year marked a record-setting ski season for American resorts with 60.5 million skier visits, according to the National Ski Areas Association. This year, many ski enthusiasts are faced with tighter budgets and new economic challenges that have them searching for ways to save without giving up their annual trip to the mountains.

When looking to cut vacation costs, it all starts during the booking process.

Top travel experts share the following tips for ski savings:  read more »

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The main strength of the HP MediaSmart Server is central storage and media streaming for music and photos over your home network. Special iTunes support allows iTunes playback on connected computers that use iTunes.

You can serve photos directly from the MediaSmart server or upload photos to Facebook, Picasa or Snapfish. I do not see Flickr support in the announcement though.

In addition to media center type serving of music, videos, and photos the server also performs a network backup for Windows and Mac computers on a home network. To add additional redundancy you can add Amazon S3 for offsite storage. The HP Media Collector can schedule centralizing files from the other computers on the home network.

The HP MediaSmart Server ex485 will have 750 GB of hard drive space at $599 and the ex487 will double the hard drive storage to 1.5 TB and a price of $749. Storage can be expanded to 9 TB later. They both contain a 64-bit 2.0 GHz Intel Celeron processor and 2 GB of RAM.  read more »

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