The Flip Ultra

The Flip Ultra

The Flip Ultra is a unique video camera. It is simplicity at its best. As small as a compact camera, it will fit in your shirt pocket. It has a USB connector that pops out of the camera for an easy way to attach it to the computer. The software offers a very easy way to upload your videos directly to YouTube and other websites. Even though the resolution is fairly low, the video quality is amazingly good. It is perfect for videos that you want to post online or email to family and friends. Read my full review at HardwareSecrets.com.

The Flip Ultra comes in black, white, orange, pink, and green. It retails for 149.99, but is cheaper at Amazon.

BlueAnt SuperTooth 3

BlueAnt SuperTooth 3

The SuperTooth 3 that I reviewed mounts to the sun visor in your car with a strong magnetic clip. Full instructions are given on how to pair your cell phone with the device. Once paired, the SuperTooth will automatically upload your telephone book. It will also handle all of your calls.
The SuperTooth has only 2 buttons and a volume control. The Multi-function button (MFB) is used for power on & off, pairing, answer, voice dial, redial, and audio transfer. The second button is used to end and reject a call and to reload the phonebook.

The SuperTooth has a very useful auto-voice answer mode. Just press the VOL control button for 5 seconds. The SuperToothconfirms this mode by saying “Voice answer enabled”.

Once that is done, when a call comes in, it will be announced by the SuperTooth. Its built-in Text-to-Speech Technology that will announce the incoming callers’ name (if you have it recorded in your voice-calling-enabled cell phone) or their caller ID number. To accept the call you simply say “Accept Call”, “Accept”, “Answer”, or “OK” and you will be able to talk handsfree.

If you phone supports voice calling, making a call is also easy. Just press the MFB button and say the name of the person as you have it entered in your phone book.

The call quality is excellent. I tested the SuperTooth in several different cars. Even with the widows open, I could hear the caller and they could hear me.

Other good features include:

• No installation required
• Voice prompt guides the easy setup
• The visor clip is magnetic on both sides so that you can easily switch its position. This is important if you need to put the sun visor down or prefer to make the SuperTooth a little more hidden when parking.
• Talk time of 15 hours, with 800 hours of standby means you won’t have to recharge too often. When you do, you can use the included wall plug or the car plug.
• You can pair up to 8 different devices.
• When you get in the car and the Supertooth is on and the Bluetooth in your phone is on, the device announces that the connection has been made, so you are assured that the Suptertooth will take your calls.
• You can easily transfer the call back to the phone if necessary.
• When the battery is the LED on the SuperTooth which is normally blue, turns to red and the Supertooth 3 verbally announces “Low Battery”.
• There are several languages to choose from: American English, Spanish, French, Italian, German and British English.
• The noise/echo cancellation works quite well.
• It comes with a two-year full replacement warranty.

MSRP: $129.95

If you are considering an iPod, you might want to investigate the iPod shuffle, which is the cheapest iPod. Starting at $49, it comes in 1GB and 2Gb models and great colors: green, blue, pink, purple, and silver. It doesn’t have a screen, and the music plays randomly, but it is perfect for the gym where you can wear it on your sleeve or your gym shorts and listen to the upbeat music while you sweat it out.

The iPod Nano is the next step up. It’s a little larger and has a screen for making selections, viewing pictures and even watching movies. It comes in wonderful bright colors and is thinner than ever before. With the addition of a simple radio transmitter, the iPod nano is perfect for in-car entertainment. You can also purchase a speaker dock and use the nano as your desktop or bedside music player.

And don’t forget to look at the iPod touch. It does everything the nano does and more. It has a built-in speaker, a multi-touch display, and 3D graphics. The on-board accelerometer is perfect for playing games, many of which are available for free at the iTunes Apps Store. The touch also has built-in wi-fi so you can surf the web. It doesn’t get much better than that!

IFrogz Luxe Case (Back)

IFrogz Luxe Case (Back)

I didn’t like it so I returned it. The iFrogz company was amazingly gracious about the return. I chose to exchange the Treadz case for the iFrogz iPhone 3G Luxe case which was suggested by their representative during a telephone call. “Everyone here has their iPhones in the Luxe case”, she said. “I’m sure that you will love it!”

The Luxe case arrived quickly and the rep was right. I love it. The Luxe is a hard shell plastic case. It comes in two parts that slide together to encompase the iPhone in an atractive arching design. One part of the case is a bright color. The other is black. The colors include royal blue, ruby red, medium magenta, orange, silver, and the lime green that I choose. Actually, the color is a bit more muted than it shows here. The neat thing is that the case has a metallic facade that has a velvety soft touch. I don’t know how they did it, but the finish is really great. So it is aptly named “Luxe”.

The case comes with a screen protector to prevent scratches. You simply peel it off the paper and apply it to the face of the iPhone. My first try produced a few bubbles, but the second try produced good results.

It is difficult to give the iPhone an extremely protective case without interfering with the functionality of the full-face touch screen, but the Luxe does a good job. Everything is accessable and the case gives the iPhone a great feel. No more fear of it sliding out of your hand!

Tadpole for Kids

Tadpole for Kids

Many of us succumb to the lure of the new iPod models with new features. But you don’t have to just shove that old iPod into a drawer. You can turn it into a treasured possession for your children or grandchildren. iFrogz makes a special case called the Audiowrapz Tadpole. This is a great rubberized case with handles that is perfect for any kid. It’s both tough and protective.

As you may know if you read my previous posts, I have found the iFrogz company to be very competent and responsive.

They are currently offering the Audiowrapz Tadpode along with a screen protector and the your choice of wheel art for only $.99. WOW, what a fantastic offer. Just be sure that you choose the Audiowrapz that is right for your iPod version. Then enter promo code “only99″ at checkout to get your 99 cent Audiowrapz. This is a limited time offer. Only good while supplies last.

iFrogz is also offering the same deal on their regular Audiowrapz Treadz iFrogz Tadpole for Kidscovers. So pick one of those up, as well.

Olympus 570

Olympus 570

This Olympus is not considered an SLR because it does not have interchangeable lenses. Instead, it has a powerful, but compact 20x optical zoom wide angle lens. You can do as little or a much as you like with the 570. It has full manual control, but also works well in Auto mode and has 21 preset screen modes to choose from.

Other features are face detection,  dual image stabilization, and  It also has two features that are wonderful, but not always found in cameras of this type: It has a hot shoe for an external flash and also has the ability to shoot in both JPEG and RAW formats.

Read my full review at HardwareSecrets.com.

Retail: $449.99

Defective iPhone Power Adapter

Defective iPhone Power Adapter

This is the white adapter that plugs into the USB end of the iPhone charging cord and is used to power up the phone from a regular outlet. Apple is asking people to avoid using the adapter until it can be replaced. In the meantime, they suggest charging the iPhone from a computer with a USB port.

The adapters can be exchanged at an Apple Retail Store starting on October 10th or you can order a replacement via the web at the Apple Ultracompact USB Power Adapter Exchange Program website.

More information can be obtained at the Apple Exchange Program website. You can see that Apple prefers to call this an exchange program rather than a recall. But whatever you call it, you will want to stop using the power adapter until you can get a new one.

The introduction of the new iPod nanos brought that same thought to mind. The new 4th generation nanos are beautiful. They have great bright colors. And they are thin—-very, very thin.

Thin is in!

Thin is in!

I have owned nanos from all 3 previous generations. I lost my first generation nano. I think that it was so thin that it got thrown away in a stack of papers. So there may really be such a thing as being too skinny.

That said, this new nano has slightly curved sides which make it feel good in the hand. It also has an accelerometer so you can watch movies horizontally. It has one cool feature that the other iPods  and even the iPhone don’t have — you can shake it to randomize the song it plays. Only problem is that I would probably never use either of these features. My eyes rebel at watching movies on the tiny nano screen, and I don’t want to be surprised by the music I hear, I want to choose it.

Oh well, I guess that means I won’t be giving up my short 3rd generation iPod nano. I like the fact that it’s a little thicker and shorter. I’ll be admiring the great colors in the new nanos, but that’s about all.

To use the Genius you must give Apple permission to keep a list of your music. They say this is not linked to your iTunes ID and is only used for the Genius application. Genius also has a toolbar which can suggest new music that you may like.

All-in-all, this is a useful and welcome addition. Another welcome addition is that iTunes is welcoming back NBC television shows and that those shows and others will now be available in HD. Check out the free episodes that you can download by using the link below. I’ll do the same and let you know what I think.

Apple iTunes

Just as an aside. Apple already has a Genius bar in their Apple store. Why couldn’t they think of another name for their “Genius” iTunes feature. I guess they haven’t hired enough geniuses to handle thinking up new name!