Sunday, August 30, 2009

HeadBlade: Head Shaving That Is "Against The Grain"

NerdBoyTV thinks the HeadBlade is an AWESOME gadget—checkout how entrepreneur Todd Greene took the HeadBlade to over $10 million in annual sales.

SHOW #80 - NerdBoyTV: Clickfree, Acer, Regal Clothing Co.

In this episode of NerdBoyTV, Ryan Yee discusses Clickfree's DVD backup for your MP3s, his recent purchase of an Acer Aspire One netbook, and the Regal Clothing Co. in the UK.

As Internet turns 40, barriers threaten its growth

By Anick Jesdanun / AP Technology Writer (CLICK to read more)

"Goofy videos weren't on the minds of Len Kleinrock and his team at UCLA when they began tests 40 years ago on what would become the Internet. Neither was social networking, for that matter, nor were most of the other easy-to-use applications that have drawn more than a billion people online.

Instead the researchers sought to create an open network for freely exchanging information, an openness that ultimately spurred the innovation that would later spawn the likes of YouTube, Facebook and the World Wide Web.

There's still plenty of room for innovation today, yet the openness fostering it may be eroding. While the Internet is more widely available and faster than ever, artificial barriers threaten to constrict its growth.

Call it a mid-life crisis."

Saturday, August 29, 2009

Internet Age re-inventing music business: Bandwidth

By Glenn Chapman / AFP: Yahoo! Tech

"Music and Internet worlds merged on San Francisco's posh Nob Hill as insiders brainstormed about industry rocking Web 2.0 trends from social networking to smart phones with cameras.

Internet technologies will transform a music industry in which recording studio revenues have tumbled along with CD sales, according to those gathered for an elite Bandwidth Conference.

'The technology is really there to empower the consumer and the artist,' said Gracenote vice president of product and content management Stephen White.

'It is about creating better experiences around music, and we think the same is true for movies, TV, and other entertainment content.'

Gracenote specializes in music recognition technology and is used in Apple's iTunes online shop. Sony bought the California company last year for a reported 260 million dollars."

Friday, August 28, 2009

NerdBoyTV BUY ALERT: Acer Aspire One 10.1 Netbook with 6-cell battery


For UNDER $300, you will not find a better bargain on a terrific netbook like the Acer Aspire One. I bought this one for my son, Brandon, and I've heard nothing but raves from him ;-)

It comes with a 10.1 display, 1GB RAM, 160GB hard drive, built-in webcam/mic, and best of all...a 6-cell battery that holds up to a 5–6 hour charge (great for long flights or coffee shop visits with no AC outlet ;-)

Keep in mind, these are NEW netbooks—NOT REFURBISHED like some I've found on ebay.

This particular ebay vendor also ships via FedEx at NO CHARGE to you!

Plain and simple, this is an EXCELLENT buy! Check it out below...

CLICK here to buy: Acer Aspire One 10.1 Netbook

Big screen evolves to compete with small

By Yahoo! News (CLICK to read more)

"Today, young movie-watchers look increasingly like Molly O'Connor. A junior at the University of Dallas, she still goes to the cinema occasionally, but is often just as happy to hunker down on a bed or a couch with friends to watch a downloaded movie on a laptop that's perched on a nearby desk or a chair.

'Sometimes, it's nice to have a wider screen, but I don't think I gain that much by going to a movie theater anymore,' the 20-year-old student says. 'Now, it's more about convenience.'

Or as 26-year-old Michael Brody puts it: 'I watch movies the way many people listen to music — anytime, anywhere, any way.' A freelance writer in New York who blogs about film, he used to go to the movie theater every week. Now he's there once or twice a month, partly to save money and also because he doesn't think most movies are worth the effort.

Sounds like bad news for movie theaters. But we're talking about an industry that not only survived, but ended up thriving amid the arrival of television in the 1950s, videotapes in the 1980s, and DVDs in the '90s. The reason? An ability to continually remake themselves and find new ways to generate revenue, by introducing everything from the multiplex and more elaborate concessions to lengthy pre-show advertising."

State govs saying 'No thanks' to mystery laptops

Yahoo! News (CLICK to read more)

"Even during tight budgetary times, a growing handful of state governors are proving too wary to accept laptop computers that have shown up at their offices this month, unsolicited.

Officials in West Virginia, Vermont, Wyoming and Washington state have reported receiving between three and five laptops, each over the course of two separate deliveries — but none had ordered any of them.

'They immediately raised a red flag,' said Matt Turner, spokesman for West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin. 'No one said, 'Hey, we got a free gift.''

The laptops were made by Hewlett-Packard or come from its Compaq brand. The world's leading PC maker intercepted a shipment to at least one other state, according to a bulletin issued by the National Governors Association in response to the suspicious deliveries.

'HP is aware that fraudulent state government orders recently have been placed for small amounts of HP equipment. HP took prompt corrective action to address the fraudulent orders and is working with law enforcement personnel on a criminal investigation,' the Palo Alto, Calif.-based company said in a statement, declining further comment."

Thursday, August 27, 2009

Dell's numbers show PC industry staggering back

By AP: Yahoo! Tech (CLICK to read more)

"Dell Inc.'s second-quarter results reinforce what other tech heavyweights have shown recently about the health of the personal-computer industry: it's still wounded by the recession, but is staggering back to its feet, thanks to consumers, bargain prices and little 'netbook' laptops for surfing the Internet.

The Round Rock, Texas-based company reported Thursday that profit fell 23 percent and sales fell 22 percent in the May-July period. The results beat Wall Street's forecasts, however, sending the shares up more than 6 percent.

Dell's message was similar to those offered by rival Hewlett-Packard Co., the world's No. 1 PC seller, and supplier Intel Corp., the world's biggest computer chip maker, in their latest quarterly reports: consumers are coming back to the stores to buy PCs, but corporations are still being stingy.

Dell added that it might not be until 2010 that businesses open their wallets again. Analysts have been eyeing next year for a turnaround because companies will have new budgets, can't hold on to old PCs forever, and will have a new version of Microsoft Windows available."

Best Buy leverages social media engagement very aggressively

By Brian White - BloggingStocks (CLICK to read more)

"Best Buy Inc. (NYSE: BBY) is taking the world of social media by storm. Instead of relying on traditional marketing and communication methods, hundreds of Best Buy employees are chirping on Twitter.com to assist in technology advice. The retailer is becoming more transparent and communicative on its own online forums. And, it's producing video blogs to engage its consumers beyond the world of text.

What does all this add up to? As the last national big-box consumer electronics retailing chain left in the U.S., Best Buy's 'community managers' will be speaking at the Engage! to explain why they are doing what they are doing. Best Buy's strategy here is to adopt the communication and networking arenas its existing and potential customers are already in -- and win more sales that way. Its 'Twelpforce' effort of offering advice is just a start."

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Sony's E-Reader vs. Kindle: 5 Reasons Amazon Should Worry

By Jared Newman / PC World (CLICK to read more)

"Sony has been all about the e-reader lately, announcing the Digital Reader Pocket Edition and Touch Edition earlier this month, then follsony reader kindleowing up yesterday with the Digital Reader Daily Edition, a high-end product with a touch screen and 3G connectivity. It's clear that Sony's approach is anything but half-hearted, and I think the company is in prime position to knock Amazon's Kindle e-reader of its perch. Here are five reasons why."

Gamer study reinforces stereotypes, players say

By Suzanne Choney /Games - msnbc.com (CLICK to read more)

"Tod Curtis says he’s “near 35, not fat, not bummed” and is an “extroverted video-game player who appreciates proper science.” The Bedford, Ind., man does not, however, appreciate the recent research by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of adults ages 19 to 90.

The study found that the average age of video-game players is 35, that many male players have a higher body mass index (and are overweight) and that female players reported “greater depression” than women who don’t play video games.

“I've been playing video games since 1978, with the Atari 2600, when I was 6 years old,” said Curtis, who is now 37. “I play about four to eight hours per week, with a lot of variation. I had always planned to become a video-game designer/computer scientist, but pursued a career as an orthodontist instead.”"

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Behind 10 eyebrow-raising App Store rejections

By Don Reisinger, The Digital Home - CNET News (CLICK to read more)

"Frustrated programmers have highlighted what they believe to be double standards, strange policies, and flip-flopping among Apple's App Store guards.

Several developers whose applications have been rejected from the store, which hosts third-party software developed for the iPhone and iPod Touch, have published their correspondence with Apple.

Apple's rejections of apps accused of infringing a patent or copyright make sense to most industry insiders. But some App Store rejections have raised quite a few eyebrows.

In an attempt to highlight--and perhaps make some sense of--a few of the more questioned rejections, I've compiled a list of those that caused me to scratch my head."

Exploding iPhones: Panic, or chill?

By Ben Patterson : Yahoo! Tech (CLICK to read more)

"Reports are coming in from France, the Netherlands, and the UK of iPhones and iPod Touches—just a few so far, mind you—blowing up in people's faces, and the European Commission has launched an investigation into the matter. So, is your iPhone a ticking time bomb? Before you freak out, read on.

So, what's going on?

There have been a handful of reported incidents of iPhones and iPod Touches exploding, causing minor injuries in some cases (mainly due to flying glass shards from the iPhone display)."

Monday, August 24, 2009

Nokia to make laptop, jumping on wireless trend


by Yahoo! Tech (CLICK here to read more)

"Nokia Corp., the world's largest maker of cell phones, said Monday that it will start making a small, light laptop, similar to ones PC manufacturers are already selling through wireless carriers around the world.

The Finnish company says the Nokia Booklet 3G will run Microsoft Corp.'s Windows software, have a 10-inch screen and weigh 2.8 pounds. That puts it squarely in the 'netbook' category pioneered by Taiwanese manufacturers like AsusTek Computer Inc.

Nokia said it would reveal the price and launch date of the PC on Sept. 2. Most netbooks sell for less than $500."

RealNetworks Wants Rhapsody on Apple's iPhone


by Yahoo! News (CLICK for more)

"RealNetworks is looking to leverage Apple's App Store for the iPhone and iPod touch to get its digital music subscription service to iPhone users around the world. But will Apple allow the iTunes competitor a place on its devices?

Over the weekend, Real announced plans to submit its on-demand, streaming music application for the iPhone and iPod Touch to Apple for review. Real is betting that although not everyone who uses an iPhone is a Rhapsody subscriber, many music lovers will find the app appealing.

'There is nothing quite as satisfying as needing to hear a certain song right now and being able to scratch that itch. That's what we aim to do, and now it'll be easier than ever,' said Real's Lacy Kemp. 'I can't even count the number of times I've wanted to hear a song on my iPhone and guiltily plopped down 99 cents to iTunes to please my impatient self. When I first used the Rhapsody app, it seriously felt like the sun shone a little brighter that day. Music matters that much.'"

Sunday, August 23, 2009

Heineken Commercial with Eva Longoria (2009)

NerdBoyTV loves this Heineken commercial — it's definitely a nerdboy's dream! ENJOY...

Saturday, August 22, 2009

15 Things to Consider When Shopping for a Netbook

By Ryan Yee
Editor of NerdBoyTV

RAM
— How much Random Access Memory or RAM does the netbook come with? A year or so ago, 512MB was pretty standard, but now 1GB is normal—2GB is excellent for a netbook, but it's gonna cost you.

Keep in mind that RAM is not nearly as important on a little netbook as it is on a full-size laptop or desktop computer. Netbooks are primarily for surfing the Internet, so processing speed is not really the issue. It's the speed of the actual Internet connection that counts.

WiFi — This is standard on all netbooks—after all, a netbook IS for surfing the Internet. It better come with built-in WiFi.

Monitor Display Size — How big is the netbook's display? 10.1 inches is pretty standard now, though they can go as low as 8 inches and as high as 12 inches (though these are really more laptops than netbooks). An 11-inch display is about the cut-off point before a netbook becomes a regular laptop.

Don't expect to have too many windows opened at the same time—shouldn't be an issue since, again, that's not the point of having a netbook.

Hard Drive Storage — Standard HD storage size is 160GB, though some laptops go even higher (but you're gonna pay for it). Not really necessary. You can install plenty of program applications and even some graphic-intensive games with 160GB of hard drive storage.

Battery Life — 3 cell or 6 cell? 3 cell is cheaper and currently the standard. You'll get about 2 hours of play out of a single charge. But if you get the 6 cell for about $50 more, you'll get up to 6 hours of play from a single charge—great for cross-country flights. If you plan to plug in the AC/DC all the time, then this doesn't even matter. Go cheap with a 3 cell.

Brand — Acer? HP? Dell? Sony? Asus? Acer and Asus were early pioneers of the netbook—they put out great products at a relatively cheap price. When you get into the name brands like Dell, HP, and Sony, you'll see a difference upward in price (unless there's a sale).

Cost — Do not plan on spending more than $400. Anything more than that and you're starting to get into more "designer" boutique netbooks. A good price is ANYTHING under $350. Under $300 and you're getting a fantastic netbook value. Check Walmart.com and ebay.com—there are plenty of great deals to be had.

Webcam/Mic — These are becoming more standard since everyone Skypes and Yahoos nowadays, but some of the plainer netbooks don't come standard with them.

Bluetooth — If you plan on hooking up Bluetooth devices to your netbook, then it is well-worth it to get a built-in Bluetooth adapter for your netbook. You can easily transfer pictures from your cellphone or listen to music using a wireless headset.


Operating System — Get XP, don't bother with Vista (too slow and bulky for a netbook). If you can get the Open Source Ubuntu, then you will snag an even cheaper netbook cause you won't be paying a Windows licensing fee to Microsoft.

Color — Sometimes, you can get about $20 off if you pick a color that's "on sale." I just got a black netbook that was cheaper than the same blue, red, or white version—go figure.

Keyboard Layout — Make sure you actually touch the keyboard cause they can vary greatly from one netbook to another (where they place certain functions, etc.). You may be surprised how different the keyboard feels on a netbook versus a regular laptop or desktop computer.

If you're a speedy typist, picking a netbook with an odd layout will absolutely drive you wild! Don't skip this step—go into a store and try it if at all possible.

Accessories — What kinds of accessories are available for you netbook? External mouse? Bluetooth adapter? External HD? Pretty carrying bags?

Media Slots — Does it have a standard SD media card slot? Firewire (certainly not standard)?

USB / Mic Jack / Ear Jack — These are pretty standard, but do check to see how many USB ports you will actually get. Everything connects to the computer using a USB nowadays.

Friday, August 21, 2009

Microsoft, Yahoo oppose Google books deal

READ MORE: Tech and gadgets- msnbc.com

"Microsoft Corp and Yahoo! Inc are joining a group of opponents to a class action settlement that gives Google Inc the right to digitize millions of books, the companies said on Friday.

The companies are becoming part of the Open Book Alliance, made up of nonprofits and libraries that have raised a red flag against Google's plan to digitize books and put them on the Internet."

Gmail's task list can now be e-mailed

Web Crawler - CNET News: "Google has enhanced the task feature that's integrated into Gmail and other Google products to let users share their lists with others. Gmail users can now choose to share an entire task list in a new e-mail message. Doing so transfers all of your tasks including information like due dates, and any tasks that have been completed which show up as being crossed out.

One thing to note is that this only works in Gmail, and not in other places where tasks can be found, including Google Calendar, the mobile version of Gmail, and on iGoogle. Although knowing Google, the e-mailing feature will make its way to each of these places soon enough.

Gmail tasks is the one and only feature to 'graduate' from Gmail labs, which is Google's test bed for new and experimental features. The feature was launched in early December of last year, and graduated from labs last month. The rest of the labs-only features, including the 13 that were launched alongside the release of the labs program, continue to require user action to be enabled."

Ten ways to break your laptop

Nanotech - The Circuits Blog - CNET News: "It's a well-known fact that circuit boards and liquids don't mix, but there are more bizarre ways to break your laptop. A Massachusetts-based computer repair company has listed the top 10 ways that people deep-six their laptops--MacBooks, in particular.

In many respects, a laptop is an accident waiting to happen. Often there is no more than a thin piece of plastic between the user and disaster. And Apple MacBooks are particularly vulnerable at Starbucks these days due to their increasing popularity over the standard-fare Dell laptop.

But spilling coffee on your keyboard is one of the less colorful ways to break your laptop (Apple MacBook Air owners take note: No. 7)."

Thursday, August 20, 2009

5 Wicked-Hot — and 5 Way-Cold — Sports Technologies

PC World: "Technology is changing the way fans watch and interact with sporting events. In some cases it's changing the sports themselves. Many technologies can enhance a fan's enjoyment of sports. Some others are just plain annoying. Before we get to the bad, CLICK on link for 10 sports technologies we love."

Review: Creating virtual recipe box can be a snap

Yahoo! Tech: "For years, I have tucked away recipe cards of all shapes and sizes in nooks and crannies of my kitchen, determined that one day I would actually use them. Sadly, for many recipes, that day never came, partly because they were so disorganized.

But cooking has been on my mind lately, thanks to Meryl Streep and her hilarious rendition of Julia Child in the new movie 'Julie & Julia.' Streep became my inspiration to get organized — and in this digital age, what could be more fitting than using software to create a virtual recipe box?

Finding the right program took time, however."

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

The 10 Stupidest Tech Company Blunders

PC World: "Some of the biggest high-tech deals never happened. Some of the most promising products and services never came to be. Why? Because the people and companies involved didn't realize what they were letting slip through their fingers, or they simply couldn't foresee what would happen afterward.

Change just a few circumstances, and there might not be an Apple or a Microsoft today. Yahoo might be the king of the search hill, with Google lagging behind. You might be reading this on a Xerox-built computer via a CompuServe account while listening to your favorite tunes on a RealPod.

People say hindsight is 20-20. If so, our vision is acute. Here are our picks for the biggest missed opportunities in the history of technology."

Demon Silicone Series Case for iPhone 3G/ 3GS (Halloween Collection)

Dell gets thin: Inspiron 11z debuts for only $399

Crave - CNET: "While much was made of Dell killing off its Mini 12 Netbook recently, one question raised was: what might fill that 11-to-12-inch void in the future? That question is answered, in part, with today's announcement of the Dell Inspiron 11z, an 11.6-inch thin-and-light weighing only 3 pounds. How thin? At its thickest point: 1.02 inches, according to Dell's specs. This is Dell's first real entry into thin-and-light, a category that's been gaining momentum recently (the Acer Aspire Timeline 3810T, MSI X340, and Lenovo IdeaPad U350 to name a few).

Inside, there's no Atom processor, but instead a single-core 1.2 GHz Intel ULV Celeron 723. Equipped with a three-cell battery, Dell promises long battery life in a chassis that's '24 percent smaller than 14-inch laptops' (but this is an 11.6-inch laptop, so how is that fair?). Unfortunately, that 'long battery life' equates to 3 hours in the press release, but we'll remain optimistic. The keyboard is 92 percent standard-size, close to a regular laptop experience (although sometimes we've found that small differences in ergonomics can be disorienting). Like a Netbook and most thin-and-lights, the 11z has no optical drive.

One of the best features is the price: Dell's Web site lists the Inspiron 11z as $399, the same cost as a Netbook."

Old MP3 players that are still worth buying

MP3 Insider - CNET Reviews: "There was a time in the history of MP3 players when new models were clearly superior to hardware that had been on the shelf a few years. If you were one of the unfortunate souls who bought an iPod Photo a few months before the iPod Video came out, you know exactly what I mean.

These days, the MP3 and portable video player landscape has hit a plateau of sorts. Sure, you've got your iPod Touch and Zune HD out there to keep things interesting, but for the others, features such as sound quality, format compatibility, screen size, and capacity have stayed relatively unchanged over the past few years. In fact, when it comes to storage capacity, your choices are more limited today then they were a few years ago--back when the hard drive was still king."

Looking for a job? Try LinkedIn or Twitter

TODAY Technology & Money: "Job-seeking in this 21st century recession may just have gone viral and mobile.

Since the start of the recession in December 2007, about 6.7 million workers have been laid off according to latest statistics -- at a time the popularity of social networking sites such as Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter have exploded, drawing millions of users per day.

As these sites continue to alter social and cultural landscapes, they are also transforming the job search process, enabling more and more people to connect with potential employers, promote their own skills, set up support groups and search for job leads and contacts."

Gadgets that make you look like a jerk

TODAY Technology & Money: "Gadgets are confusing.

According to a recent Pew study, almost 90 percent of American nuclear households (married with kids) have multiple cell phones. How that happened when other studies keep demonstrating cell phone use by men is associated with less 'motile' sperm is anyone's guess.

But again, gadgets are a conundrum. The iPhone, for instance, still has no copy-and-paste, which kind of sprains the brain doesn't it?

Further enhancing gadgetry's yin and yang nature is that while sometimes tech makes you appear hip, assertive and dynamic, it can just as easily make you look like an utter pain.

So, before you rush out to buy Apple's new laptop or BlackBerry's new Storm, click the arrows above for seven high-profile gadgets you might look cooler without."

Sunday, August 16, 2009

Asus Eee PC 1000HE Netbook (via CNET)

CNET Top 5: Most popular products for August

Zune HD up for preorder, more colors soon

via MP3 Insider - CNET Reviews

"The Microsoft Zune HD portable media player is officially available for preorder today. Outlets ranging from Best Buy, Walmart, Amazon, and Microsoft itself are taking preorders on a black version of the 16GB Zune HD, or a silver version of the 32GB model. As Tuesday's pricing leak suggested, the players are retailing for $219 (16GB) and $289 (32GB). Preorders of the Zune HD are expected to arrive on September 15, the same day we expect they'll hit store shelves.

Also on sale today is the Zune HD AV Dock, which allows you to connect the player to your television or home entertainment center and output videos and menus at 720p HD resolution. The dock retails for $89 and includes an HDMI cable, power adapter, and a remote control."

Changing the world one blog at a time (via MSNBC)

Wow, the Mona Lisa TALKS!

Obsolete Technology: 40 Big Losers

via PC World

"Old tech friends we used for years are now deceased or on life support. Remember shrieking modems, paper phone books, and the C:\ prompt?"

Friday, August 14, 2009

SHOW #79 - NerdBoyTV: Acer Aspire One Netbook

In this episode of NerdBoyTV, Ryan Yee tells you how he purchased the excellent Acer Aspire One Netbook (10.1 display, 1G RAM, 160 HD, 6 cell battery) that retails for $378 for $286 out-the-door on ebay (no shipping, no sales tax).

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

SHOW #78 - NerdBoyTV: Sony Webbie HD

In this episode of NerdBoyTV, Ryan Yee takes you on a ride (literally) with a demo of the Sony Webbie HD minicam.

Monday, August 10, 2009

Consumers buying smaller, cheaper electronics

Proper Tech Etiquette

NerdBoyTV FIND: Acer 10.1" Aspire One Netbook

Walmart.com

Acer 10.1' Aspire One Netbook with Intel Atom N270 Processor, Windows XP & 3 Cell Battery

NerdBoyTV thinks this is an excellent price for the Acer Aspire One (with Windows XP and not that clunkety Vista operating system). I've had very good luck with Acer and the customer reviews on the Walmart site look pretty darn good. You're not gonna be able to beat this price—$298 (in black, white, blue, or red). The only thing that would make this better would be the 6 Cell Battery (but that'll add another $60 to $100). Don't think it's really necessary. Plug in as long as the coffee shops let ya (hehehe). ;-)

Nikon raises curtain on Coolpix camera with built-in projector

via Ben Patterson : Yahoo! Tech

What's the fun in squinting at snapshots on a two-inch LCD? Instead, try projecting your latest stills and video clips onto the nearest wall, courtesy of Nikon's latest (but pricey) compact camera.
Announced today and set for release in September for a hefty $429, the 12.1-megapixel Coolpix S1000pj looks like your typical compact digicam, complete with a 28mm wide-angle lens, flash, and a 2.7-inch LCD in back.

But the Nikon has a cool trick up its sleeves: a tiny, built-in projector capable of throwing a 40-inch image onto any nearby surface, good for showing off individual snapshots, slideshows, or even clips you've captured with the S1000pj's video recorder.

Thursday, August 6, 2009

"Invisible flash" could eliminate bright camera bulb pops

Christopher Null : Yahoo! Tech: "Smile, you're on not-so-candid camera.

The bright and sudden pop of a flash bulb means photos are being snapped, and while it's (arguably) fun to have your picture taken, the harsh glare of a flash bulb often leaves subjects squinting and annoyed.

But what else can you do if natural light isn't an option?

Enter the so-called 'invisible flash' or 'dark flash,' which utilizes light waves outside the visible spectrum to illuminate your subject. Infrared and ultraviolet light is pulsed, with visible light frequencies filtered out, and a special camera sensor captures the invisible-to-the-naked-eye frequencies to create a finished image."