jeff's blog

When your computer crashes, the first thing you immediately think of is the last time you backed up – right? What would you do if your laptop were stolen? You not only would be concerned for your data, but the computer too, and the way someone might use your data against you, or for their benefit. It is a real problem, and one that needs addressing. There are solutions from Absolute Software that can protect your laptop and handheld devices. They are the leader in computer theft recovery.

Absolute Software is a leading provider of software solutions for managing and securing mobile devices and computers. They also specialize in data protection, and IT asset management. After all, the Absolute Theft Recovery Team is a licensed private investigation agency. Check out this video to see how they remotely delete data on a stolen machine.

You are no exception to theft, and if you have family members or employees you should look into protecting your devices. LoJack for Laptops Premium starts at $59.99 and is available at Best Buy stores and direct online from Absolute Software.

The game of tennis has matured with technology, and the companies that embrace technology will be in front of the competition. HEAD is a step ahead of their competitors, and d3o is their secret weapon. The technology behind d3o will change all of our lives for the better in many different products. I am amazed that HEAD was able to identify with this material to deliver performance enhancements to the user.

The d3o smart material is a specially designed molecule structure that reacts to impact. Where a d3o form can be pliable and soft when held, and become hard like plastic when impact occurs. I have seen the material in ski/snowboarding headgear. It was a soft pliable head warmer that would become a hard helmet when hit. This is a really cool material that has benefits to many industries. HEAD Sport AG has some smart engineers who put the d3o material inside their racquets.

HEAD calls the marriage of their products with d3o, YouTek. The tagline is, "Technology Goes Personal." They mean it…here is why… Tennis players from many skill levels from the amateur to the professional will identify improvements in their game. I say this because players with a short compact swing speed can maximize power in their swing with YouTek. The professional will identify immediately that their racquet adapts to their style of play. YouTek adapts to every player because of d3o. Read more

Jessica wrote earlier in the week that Verizon would be releasing a Netbook. Well, there is not a person who is better connected than Jessica … I think it is because we custom publish Best Magazine for Best Buy, and we know the right people. Click the cover of the magazine on the top right on the page, and then after the jump click the cover again to launch the digital magazine. Anyway… the Verizon netbook hits stores on May 17, 2009.

The HP Mini 1151NR will cost $199 after a $50 mail-in rebate. You will also have to agree to a two-year activation on a Mobile Broadband plan that will run $40 a month. The mail-in rebate will be in the form of a debit card, that is accessible anywhere credit cards are accepted.

The Verizon Wireless Netbook proves that Verizon is different, and customer-centric. They are really looking out for their customers, and you can prove it to yourself when you call their customer service. Their coverage is superior to any other wireless carrier, and if you have Verizon… you know it is true.

Check out their product and service offerings by visiting www.verizonwireless.com

When you charge your iPhone or iPod, you expect to make it through a full day of use without charging again. How many times have you been talking only to realize you are out of power and you have to start thinking about charging in the middle of a call? It is never a convenient time to run out of juice. Well, Griffin Technology knows you need a little stored up energy to get you to the charging station. The PowerBlock Reserve and the PowerJolt Reserve each hold and charge a Reserve Battery Pack for your iPhone and iPod.

Now, you can unplug your gear, and take a little more power with you in the Reserve Battery Pack from Griffin. The PowerBlock Reserve has an MSRP of $39.99 as does the PowerJolt Reserve. The PowerDuo Reserve is $59.99. The PowerDuo Reserve is both PowerBlock and PowerJolt in one price.

I like the light meter on the Reserve Battery Pack that tells you how much power remains – it is an Apple battery signature, and Griffin compliments Apple with this feature.

The Best Stuff on Earth has been identified, harvested, packaged and placed into Snapple's new formula. We are not able to disclose the location of the Best Stuff on Earth, but rest assured, you can taste it too by drinking the new Snapple.

Snapple has a NEW formula that includes green and black tea leaves. The taste is a refreshing tea that satisfies while quenching the thirst of the thirsty people here at BestStuff.com. We immediately noticed the new formula taste was clean, and more like tea than what we knew Snapple to taste like.

Our offices are located in Nashville, Tennessee and this is one place where people appreciate sweet tea. When you order tea in a southern restaurant, you are then asked by your server if you want sweet tea or unsweetened tea. In the South, the sweetener is real sugar – NOT the corn syrup many other drink manufacturers use. The Snapple folks must have traveled to the South when coming up with this new formula, because real sugar is the ingredient used to sweeten the tea. Read more

The best part about 280 Slides is that it is online. You can save your presentations on their servers, and it is free. The look and simplicity stands out, but it is the media integration that impresses me most. You can literally search for YouTube videos, and drag the image into your presentation, and BAM! Your presentation has video! The photo search is equally as easy.

There are other programs that you can buy and install on your hard drive. Then, wait for product updates and other nuances to make it work properly. I would suggest that these companies who make software look at what others are doing online. Then, copy them.

280 Slides developers are using the Google API and should be commended for their final product with 280 Slides.

I like the dual-hinge on this phone. It makes you think your little phone is from a spy movie, or James Bond lab. The dual-hinge actually serves a purpose of revealing a QWERTY keyboard, and displays a widescreen. The 2.0 megapixel camera is good for still and video capture, and it sports Bluetooth too. The Alias 2 supports RemoSync, so those corporate folks can sync their emails and contacts with ease.

The Alias 2 has what Samsung and Verizon call "Lifestyle Features" which are; VZ Navigator, Visual Voicemail, Mobile Web, Mobile Email, and a Personal Organizer with Calendar, Currency Converter, Notepad, Alarm Clock, World Clock and a Stopwatch. The Media Center capabilities provide functions to allow game downloads, ringtones, wallpapers, location-based services and a few more functions.

The Samsung Alias 2 has an MSRP of $79.99 (which is the NET price after the $50 mail-in rebate). Expect a two-year costumer agreement. The rebate comes in the form of a debit card, so that you can easily spend this money. The "Lifestyle Features" do come with a price, and range from $2.99 per month to $9.99 per month.

Bluetooth is what makes the XLink functional by delivering calls to your home telephone system or phones. If this concept is confusing go here. The purpose for this device is the growing trend of cutting the landline and adopting the cell phone as the primary telephone. Some people are using services like NumberGarage, and forward callers to the cell phone. Yet, a new dilemma presents itself… what do you do with those old home telephones? You use the XLink of course.

If you have a cell phone and landline or VoIP phones, then the XLink BTTN and XLink BT will work for you. The XLink BTTN sells for $119 MSRP, and the XLink BT sells for $99. The difference between the two is the BTTN has a telephone jack for a VoIP line so those old landline phones can work for four (4) separate lines. Meaning Mom, Dad, kids, roommates, etc. can connect up to three cell phones via Bluetooth and all calls to those cell phones ring the old telephones. Read more

Sure, you can buy Disney content in the iTunes store from Apple. You can watch some Disney content on Disney's Web sites, ESPN, Disney.com, etc. Now that Robert (Bob) Iger is thinking outside the box, and embracing the quick popularity of Hulu you will be able to find Disney content on Hulu too. It helps that Iger was offered an equity position in Hulu to make this work for Disney.

The ability to place content in front of many people is the reason for BIG companies like Disney to embrace Web sites like Hulu. Sure, YouTube is the most popular video site out there today, and the short-form content is fun to watch. Even the guys at MythBusters are creating content around YouTube hoaxes, myths, and truths. In my opinion it is the quality of your Internet connection that will ultimately make these sites like Hulu more successful.

There are also the televisions that have hardware built right in making Internet video content easier to access. After all… we only want to watch what is available, and Disney has made a great decision in embracing Hulu.

The noticeable change in this new device is the screen size. Because with screens – size does matter. 9.7-inch electronic paper display will ensure the reader can see what they are reading. The pre-orders are now open, and the MSRP from Amazon.com is $489. The shipping for the Kindle DX starts this summer.

Textbook publishers are going to offer their textbooks in the Kindle Store as well – which is good news for students. You can store up to 3,500 books on the Kindle DX, and there are more then 275,000 books available in the Kindle Store.

"Personal and professional documents look so good on the big Kindle DX display that you'll find yourself changing ink-toner cartridges less often," said Jeff Bezos, Amazon.com Founder and CEO. "Cookbooks, computer books, and textbooks – anything highly formatted – also shine on the Kindle DX. Carry all your documents and your whole library in one slender package."Read more