Learn Everything About USB…

The TTC Shelbyville blog recently posted information about a really awesome web site called EverythingUSB that solely is about USB (Universal Serial Bus) technology and devices.  EverythingUSB not only is an information source about past, present and future USB technology; it also provides reviews on some really neat USB devices and products that will surely be of interest.

USB (or Universal Serial Bus) is a 13-year old standard that was originally designed to connect then smart phones to PCs in the mid-90s. It later became the de facto standard for connecting any external, thanks to USB’s built-in power supply and relatively fast speeds. The then-unique one-cable approach sparked a revolution that spawned everything USB (no pun intended) ranging from flash drives, hard drives, headsets, speakers, TV tuners to webcams. All these top at 12Mbps, at which speed is only good for mice and keyboards; so the official USB body upgraded the specs to USB 2.0, adding Hi-Speed USB mode operating at 480Mbps. As more applications moved on to wireless thereafter, the same group decided to follow the trend by cutting the wire in the latest Certified Wireless USB standard, completed in 2005. And now, we are currently in the pre-WUSB and SuperSpeed USB era.

Thank you TTC Shelbyville (Tennessee Technology Center at Shelbyville) for this awesome find.

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Very cool animated site on how to build a computer…

If you are thinking about building your own computer OR you want to learn more about the internal components of your computer, then “PCitYourself” is an good starting point.  This site provides “How To” instructions in conjunction with flash based technology, to animate “step-by’step”, the process of choosing parts for a computer, building the computer and the installation of the Bios, Operating System and Drivers. Watching the parts flying around and landing in their respective places inside the PC will entice you to want to build a PC.  Great educational tool and very well done!

www.pcityourself.com

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The ViewSonic VPC100 All In One – Future of computers?

What you are looking at is not just an LCD monitor. It is the ViewSonic VPC100 All-In-One computer.  Yes, that is the computer, built into the monitor chassis.

If space is at premium the VPC100, which is only 35mm thick, may be an option.  According to the ViewSonic website this PC can operate independently, hardwired into a LAN network or work wirelessly in any 802.11b/g WiFi network. I found the specs on the VPC100 comparable to the specs that is currently being seen in today’s netbooks. This type of “all-in-one” PC may be the future; especially if cloud computing becomes a mainstay. Most computer users really do not take full advantage of the operating power or specs of their PC’s anyway. Really, what else would the everyday internet user need? Currently the VPC100 is a little pricey ($550 to $650) in my book, but it is worth a look see. If anyone out there has one of these, I would love to hear your comments.

Specs

Type
18.5″ Color TFT Active Matrix LCD

Display Area
16.1″ horizontal x 9.1″ vertical; 18.5″ diagonal

Resolution
1366×768

Contrast Ratio
1000:1 (typ)

Brightness
300 cd/m2 (typ)

Viewing Angles
160º horizontal, 160º vertical

Response Time
5ms (typ)

Light Source
Long life, 50,000 hrs. (typ)

AUDIO

Speaker
3-watt (x2)

CONNECTOR

Power
Adapter: 19V DC; 65W / Cord: 3-pin AC plug

POWER

Voltage
AC 100–240V (universal), +/–10% Wide Range

Consumption
60W (typ)

DC-DC Power
On-board, 19V DC-in to 3.3V, 5V, 5VSB, 12V

OPERATING CONDITIONS

Temperature
32-104ºF (0-40ºC)

Humidity
10-90% (non-condensing)

Altitude
0–6,000 ft. (1800 m), operational up to 10,000 ft. (3048 m) at reduced reliability and performance

DIMENSIONS

Physical (WxHxD)
17.72″ x 14.18″ x 1.38″ (450mm x 360mm x 35mm)

WEIGHT

Net
11.73 lb. (5.32 kg)

Gross
16.53 lb. (7.5 kg)

RECYCLE/DISPOSAL

The lamp in this product contains mercury. Please dispose of in accordance with local, state or federal laws.

PACKAGE CONTENTS

VPC100, power cord, power adapter, keyboard, mouse, Driver CD, Quick Start Guide, ViewSonic Wizard CD

VESA® MOUNT

100mm x 100mm

WARRANTY

1-year limited warranty on parts, labor and backlight

CORE

CPU Processor Type
Intel® Atom N270

CPU Processor Speed
1.6GHz Single Core, FSB 533MHz, BGA

Chipset
Intel® 945GSE + ICH7M

MEMORY

1GB DDR2 SDRAM

SOFTWARE

Operating System
Windows® XP Home

HARD DRIVE

Capacity
2.5″, 160GB SATA

COMMUNICATION

Ethernet LAN
10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet

Wireless LAN
802.11b/g

INPUT/OUTPUT

USB 2.0 (x4), PS/2 (x2), RJ45 Gigabit Ethernet LAN, Microphone jack, Earphone jack, 4-in-1 card reader (XD, SD, MMC, MS)

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Pogoplug – Share and Access Files from Anywhere

Pogoplug is a device that started shipping this week that really caught my eye… Pogoplug is a “plug and play” network device that I see  becoming popular with the “file sharing” crowd.

You simply connect the Pogoplug device to your home network router; then connect an external drive or memory stick to the Pogoplug.  You can then access the files on the external drive or memory stick from anywhere on the internet by logging into an account that you setup with Pogoplug.  In essence you are creating a network attached storage device (NAS) using one or more external hard drives or memory sticks; however, on the negative side you have to go through the Pogoplug website to access your files.  Only concern I have at this time with this device is the level of security.

Features:

Easy to install — Installing your Pogoplug is as simple as connecting two cables, then visiting the Pogoplug website.

Full Web access — All the files from your external hard drive can be viewed or downloaded through your Web browser, with no need to download or install extra software.

iPhone support — Access all your media from an iPhone, and even send new pictures from your iPhone straight to your home, with a single click.

Works just like your hard drive — Your Pogoplug is accessible through Windows Explorer and Mac Finder. It’s just like using a drive that is directly connected to your computer.

Safe, simple sharing — Easily share your home videos and photos with friends and family. No uploading required!

Add-ons — Pogoplug is getting even better all the time. The Pogoplug system is expandable over the Web. Soon, Pogoplug can connect directly to popular sites such as backup, file synchronization, photo printing and more.

Specs:

• Dimensions (L x W x D): 4″ x 2.5″ x 2″
• Power requirements: 100-240V, 50/60HZ
• Drive connection: USB 2.0
• Network connection: Gigabit Ethernet
• Operating Systems: MS Windows XP, Vista (32-bit), Mac OSX 10.5 and above (Intel based)
• Web browsers: Safari, FireFox 3, IE 7, Chrome

Reviews: If you are interested in the PogoPlug, I strongly encourage you to read the following reviews:

Gizmodo: Pogoplug Review: Share Any USB Disk Over the Net (Even to iPhone)

Engadget: Pogoplug review

cnet: First hands-on with Pogoplug

CrunchGear: Review: PogoPlug USB hard drive network sharing

Popular Science: Access Any Hard Drive from the Internet

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How to use a Blackberry Smartphone with a cheap “Pay As You Go” mobile phone plan…

I love my gadgets, and when opportunity presents itself to try something different, I cannot resist.

The object of the this story is to demonstrate how I maximized the usage  of a Blackberry Smartphone using one of the cheapest mobile phone plans out there. For the sake of this article, the model phone that I used for this project was the Blackberry Curve 8320 Smartphone.

If you do not know what a Blackberry is, I encourage to visit the Blackberry website [ CLICK HERE ] .

When it comes to mobile (cell) phones I cannot see myself conversing for a 1000 minutes (16.66 hours) a month. That is two workdays to me or time that I can allocate to other things where I can see results. Please do not get me wrong, a mobile phone is very much needed in circumstances where your business or livelihood is dependent on quick communications. The plan which I currently use is a “pay as you go” plan (with T-Mobile). I have learned to discipline myself with the usage; PLUS I do not give my number out or use it for lengthy conversation.

I have always been fascinated with PDA’s, have owned quite a few, and was currently looking for something that would provide PDA capabilities, as well as, mobile phone capabilities. I did not want to pay a lot or get trapped into a lengthy service contract with a mobile phone provider just to own a computer in my pocket.

During a recent visit to the local mall I entered into my usual question and answer session with the sales rep at one of the T-Mobile kiosks.  I have done this in the past at other locations in an effort to educate myself about mobile phones. One of my primary questions has been,  “What phones will my T-Mobile “pay-as-you-go” SIM card work in?”. You would be surprised at the answers I have received. I have always been told I would have to purchase another phone plan, if I wanted a Blackberry, etc… Ultimately I always leave very confused about mobile phones. In this case, the sales rep proceeded to inform me that my SIM card in my cheapie phone would function in any of the phones they had. The sales rep proceeded to show me several phones including the Blackberry (all with heavy price tags if I were to buy the phone straight out).

As my “gadget luck” would have it, I was preparing to leave and the sales rep proceeds to tell me that he had an used Blackberry Curve 8320 for sale, minus the software for the phone.  Long story short, I get what I think is a good deal on this phone…  I buy the phone and with my cheap “pay as you go” plan, I challenge myself (as a project) to find workarounds to getting data to and from the Blackberry without the need to purchase a high priced data plan.

Reflected below is highlights of how my project turned out…  Some of the information alone may be helpful to other Blackberry owners and in some cases, depending on the phone (and provider), may not work at all. Some of the information reflected may be common information to mobile phone power users and may make me appear as if I don’t have a clue about mobile phones…  Well I don’t, but I am learning!  All I can tell you is, that I took a cheap phone plan (pay-as-you-go) and an expensive smartphone and customized it for my personal needs.

SIM Card – SIM (Subscriber Identity Module) is the card located in your phone that is a module that identifies to the mobile phone provider, who you are. It can also serve as storage media for your contacts, etc… The module can usually be removed and swapped to other phones (with the same provider).  In my case the SIM card worked with no problems and all my contacts were transferred to the Blackberry.  I now have voice communications with the Blackberry using my “pay as you go” plan.

Coverage – My phone coverage improved noticeably.  Locations where I could not get service, I now have service.  Proves to me that some mobile phones are better in transmission and reception than others.

Blackberry Desktop Manager Software – Since there was no software with the smartphone to manage the phone from my computer, I had to go find the software on the internet. I easily located and downloaded the software from “Blackberry” and installed it on my PC . The Desktop Manager Software is an integral piece that you need to keep your phone software up to date; AND to provide file management, software management, and backup capabilities. The installation was also bundled with a Roxio package to manage and convert audio, video and photo files.  After learning the Desktop Manager Software, I knew at that point this was my gateway for installing third party software onto Blackberry.

Calendar, Contact, and Task Management – In order to take full advantage of the calendar, contact and task management portion of the phone, I needed some type of syncing capabilities. The Desktop Manager Software provides syncing capability to Microsoft Outlook and to Yahoo.  I exclusively configured my Yahoo internet mail account to manage my contacts, calendar, notes and tasks on my Blackberry. When I connect my Blackberry to my computer, run the Desktop Manager Software, it automatically syncs with my Yahoo account on the internet. This also gives me the ability to pull up my information from any PC connected to the internet.

Wi-Fi – The Blackberry Curve 8320 has wi-fi (wireless) capability.  I configured the Blackberry to connect to the wireless router in my home, which provided me with (at first) limited access to the internet.  You will see below the workaround I utilized to gain full access.

Internet Browser – The browser on this particular phone was very, very limited (proprietary to T-Mobile) and did not provide complete internet access via my wireless access point. I initially did not think this was possible without a data plan, but after some careful thinking, I knew there had to be some way that I could bridge that gap. I downloaded and installed Opera-Mini which is browser software designed for mobile phones. I now have full access to the internet via my wireless router or at any wi-fi access point that will let me in.  (Note: Opera-Mini is an awesome browser for this purpose).

MicroSD Card (with PC Adapter) – RadioShack had an 8 gig MicroSD memory card on sale ($20), which I installed into the Blackberry…  I now have storage capability; plus when  connecting the Blackberry to my computer it is recognized as a mass storage device. I can now transport my files, portable apps, etc… This particular phone model has a camera (w/photo viewer), video camera (with video player) and voice recorder (w/audio player) built in.  With the added storage I successfully converted a full length movie to play on the Blackberry; added MP3 music files, photos, documents, etc…

Software – Now that I have learned to install software onto the Blackberry, I am currently exploring the internet for “freeware” software for the Blackberry.  Several sources that I have located are:

Blackberry Freeware

Blackberryfreaks.com

Blackberry Freeware Directory

In closing, I have been quite pleased with the outcome of this project and the Blackberry Curve Smartphone.  I welcome any comments or suggestions.

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Backing up the files you personally value…

A pointed question to my readers:

“Do you backup the files on your computer?”.

I find that the common answer is “NO”. Many will say that the files they created or saved (e.g. documents, photos, videos) are not that important anyway. What I have found is that when users create or save files, whether it be their internet favorites, email, a document, photo, video, etc; the human element of ownership and personal value enters the picture, whether they know it or not. I know that to be the case; especially when their computer crashes and that look of despair and helplessness appears. I find that most people do not know how to backup their PC; let alone files they have saved. I am a major advocate of backing up files and have already posted one article “Backup or Cry…” , which provides a software option. If you have anything on your PC that you hold close to you, I suggest you explore the many backup options that are available.

Usually my blog is focused on software options that are free, but due to the importance of this topic I started exploring other options for users that are looking for that “easy button”. Well, I found just that… The solution is a device called “Clickfree Transformer”… This solution is not designed to backup the entire computer (such as system files); but is designed to backup the files that you have created or saved; the files you value the most (i.e. photos, documents, videos, etc…).

You will need an external hard drive to make this work or you can purchase one of the combo packages from Clickfree that includes the drive. Cost may be a hindrance, but the thought of knowing that your personal files are backed up will outweigh the cost. Just remember, when backing up your personal data files to an external hard drive, it is a good idea to purchase a drive that is at least twice the size of your internal hard drive. In this case where you are backing up personal data files you should be able to get by with less; however, this is something that you should analyze and/or consult with an IT person. There is no software to install or setup with the Clickfree Transormer. You plug the Clickfree Transformer into an USB port on your computer, then plug any external USB drive into the other end of the Clickfree Transformer. The Clickfree Transformer will automatically locate your data files and back them up to the drive. You can even do multiple computers with one Clickfree Transformer.  There is an automated software option included with the Clickfree Transformer that will allow you to modify the automated backup strategy.  I also found numerous news reviews, from credible sources, supporting Clickfree [ click here ]

This backup strategy may not be the “textbook” strategy that is supported by professional IT managers; but, it is better than nothing at all and is a great concept for home based users. You can learn more about this product by clicking on any of the “Clickfree Transformer” links in this article.

Addendum (March 11,2009) – As an enhancement to this article and to further emphasize the importance of performing routine backups of your files; I encourage you to read this “Computer Tip of the Day”  by  [ Tech for-Everyone].  TechPaul, author of the “Computer Tip of the Day” enumerates backup options that are freely available to the end user.

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Using “Zink” to print with no “Ink”

As an IT specialist the thing I most despised, on the hardware side of IT work, was printers. I have experienced the dot matrix, ink jet and laser printer and there has not been anyone of those technologies I can really say I liked or found great joy in working with. Yes, it has become somewhat easier to make that connection to the computer. Yes, printers have become inexpensive to the point that they are easily replaceable and disposable; BUT, the one thing that has not changed is the cost of the ink or laser cartridges.  Buy three rounds of ink jet cartridges and the cost will exceed what you paid for the printer.  It is the old “razors and razor blades” marketing plan. Give the razor away, and charge a lot for the ‘refills’.  Well, this all may be changing…

While trolling the internet a small photo printer by Dell, called the Wasabi PZ310 ultra-mobile “ZINK” ink free photo printer caught my attention. The device is not what captured my attention; it was the “ink free” digital technology behind it, called “ZINK” that did. To learn more about ZINK and to let the reader’s of the blog know about this “ink free” digital technology, I captured the following information straight from the ZINK website.  Hopefully the “how and way” we print may be changing; and hopefully the cost!

You can click on any of the links below to jump to the Zink web site where video clips are provided to explain how the technology works and how this technology will enable you to print from any digital device (e.g. smartphones, televisions, GPS, laptop).  Printing will never be the same.  I hope the cost of the Zink paper, which is pricey, comes down in cost as the technology catches on.  An example of a current pricing model,  is the Zink paper for the Polaroid Pogo, that is another instant mobile printer:  (30 sheets – 2″ x 3″) currently priced at Sam’s Club at $9.78.

clipped from www.zink.com

What is ZINK?

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ZINK stands for Zero Ink – an amazing new way to print in full color without the need for ink cartridges or ribbons. The ZINK Technology encompasses both the ZINK Paper and the intelligence embedded in every ZINK-enabled device. The technology enables a new category of color printing devices and paper that work as a system to print in a whole new way.

ZINK Technology is based on advances in chemistry, engineering, physics, image science, and manufacturing. ZINK was developed over several years and has generated an IP portfolio that includes over 100 patents and patents pending. And development of the next generation of ZINK continues in our labs daily.

ZINK Technology is fully developed and market ready. Our partners’ ZINK-enabled products are available now. ZINK is changing the way the world thinks about printing.

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How ZINK Works

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At the heart of the ZINK Technology is the patented ZINK Paper, an advanced composite material with cyan, yellow, and magenta dye crystals embedded inside, and a protective polymer overcoat layer outside. The crystals are colorless before printing, so ZINK Paper looks like regular white photo paper. Heat from a ZINK-enabled device activates the crystals, forming all the colors of the rainbow. The printing process is now radically simple. Just add ZINK Paper.

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