Chris Pirillo » Gadgets

HP Photosmart Premium Review

Chris — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 11:47:47 +0000

HP Photosmart Premium Review is a post from Chris Pirillo

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Yes, this is a printer. It happens to be connected to my network wirelessly. It also boasts bluetooth features and a touch screen! This HP Photosmart Premium allows me to print, copy, fax and scan. It also allows me to connect to parts of the Internet, such as coupons, Google Maps and more!

I can even print wirelessly using the HP iPrint application on my iPhone. It happens to be a free App, even! Without connecting my phone to the network, the App detected the printer on my network and sent the photo to it! How easy was that?!

The coupons feature is pretty cool, even if I do prefer my own coupons. These are ones that you can sort by category, and print out to use in your local store. Enter your zip code, and receive coupons to local stores! Who doesn’t love to save money?!

I can also print a map out for myself, so that I don’t end up lost anymore. I can target whatever location I want using Google Maps, and print out what I need. If you are subscribed to my Twitter, you know that my GPS system called me an idiot recently when I kept missing my turn. By printing out a map, that will hopefully never happen again!

I didn’t have to connect this printer to any computer in order to download updates or anything. This thing is really simple to use. If I wanted to, I could add or change the included widgets. This printer has just about every feature you could want, and then some! I love the fact that it’s connected to my entire network!

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Sony DSC-WX1 Review

Chris — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 10:22:13 +0000

Sony DSC-WX1 Review is a post from Chris Pirillo

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Sony recently sent me their new DSC-WX1 to play with and review in conjunction with an upcoming Sweep Panorama photo contest. I can tell you that I’m excited about this camera. I’m by no means a professional photographer, but I do enjoy snapping shots whenever I can. This camera has some amazing settings options, as well as extremely clean and clear pictures. Even with all of the various modes and settings, it’s not one that is difficult to figure out and operate, unlike other cameras I’ve tried in the past. Even without a flash or tripod, this camera does an amazing job of capturing excellent quality shots indoors. Now that is impressive.

I have to tell you about the most amazing part of this camera prior to the other things. I am so stunned by the Sweep Panorama option. You know how you take a series of shots to make a panorama? Then you have to use software to stitch them together. Well, with the Sweep Panorama option on this camera, you don’t have to do all of that. Choose this option, click the shutter, and slowly move your camera in the direction of the arrow. The camera will stitch the shots together FOR you. That, to me, is worth double the money one of these babies cost!

The DSC-WX features a 10.2 megapixel “Exmor R” CMOS sensor to give you amazing performance in low light settings. The camera also features 10 frames per second burst shooting – which is handy as heck when you’re trying to capture action moments.

The 10.2 mega-pixel WX1 camera has a 2.7-inch LCD display. It’s barely over three quarters of an inch thick. This is an excellent choice for those of you photographers who want to carry a compact digital camera that packs a heck of a lot of power and performance.

The more I use it, the more I love this camera. Thanks to Sony for sending this to me to review. Keep your eyes here for details of the Sweep Panorama contest that will be coming soon.

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Chumby One Review

Chris — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 06:10:36 +0000

Chumby One Review is a post from Chris Pirillo

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You might remember the original Chumby, which wasn’t quite as cool as the new Chumby One is. It has a touch screen for starters, and an awesome speaker. You can configure the widgets through the free web account that you get when you buy your Chumby. Personalize it any way you want. The thing I think I like the most is that it runs on battery, as well as through a regular cord.

A Chumby takes the best part of the Internet and sends it right to your desk. The Chumby is a window into YOUR Internet life, and only those parts of it you care to access quickly. Things like weather, news, podcasts, music and more now have a place away from your hard drive. Plug in your Chumby, connect to your network and create a lineup from more than 1500 widgets. The Chumby will then stream what YOU want to see… from sports scores to stock quotes… from video clips to games… and from photos to trivia!

You can set alarms and timers for night mode if you want. Just touch the screen, and do your thing! I absolutely love my Chumby, and it’s one of the best Christmas gifts you could buy the Geek in your life as far as I’m concerned!

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What is an Eye-Fi?

Chris — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 02:28:55 +0000

What is an Eye-Fi? is a post from Chris Pirillo

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This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of EyeFi. All opinions are 100% mine.

I used a digital camera to take a photo of the chat room, and then had it automatically transferred to my Flickr account. I could just as easily send it to my Facebook page, or any other account that is supported by the Eye-Fi. The picture was transferred wirelessly over my home network from the camera directly to my desktop… and then right to my Flickr! Using the Eye-Fi SD card, it is a snap to upload photos without having to go through several different steps.

The Eye-Fi comes with a handy little reader, since you may not have an SD card reader. The camera itself doesn’t do the transfer, in case you haven’t figured it out. It’s the Eye-Fi SDHC card doing all of the work. It’s automagic!

How often do you forget to download photos from your camera? Actually, a more likely scenario is that you just haven’t made the time to do it. If you have several pictures stored on there, it can take quite awhile for you to download them to your computer, upload them somewhere like Flickr, tag them and finally have them ready for the World to view. Using the Eye-Fi takes almost all of those steps out of the process, saving you time and headaches!

The Eye-Fi SDHC card has up to 4GB of storage, so you don’t have to worry about not having enough room for everything. One of the coolest things is that it provides an automatic backup of your memories by organizing them according to date on your computer for you! Don’t we wish more gadgets or programs would do this for us? Life sure would be easier!

I’m willing to bet you want one of these now for yourself, don’t you? Well – here’s your chance! Twelve of you are going to win one of these awesome little cards!! All you have to do is sign into Twitter, and tweet the following:

Hey @ChrisPirillo – I’d like to win a free #eye-fi via http://go.tagjag.com/eyefi4me

Yes, that’s all there is to it! Twelve people will be randomly selected to win, so get those tweets sent out in a hurry! I already love my Eye-Fi. It’s made my photo experience a thousand times better than it used to be. I think I need a few more of these!

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How to Convert Cassettes to MP3

Chris — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 00:02:25 +0000

How to Convert Cassettes to MP3 is a post from Chris Pirillo

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One of the first pieces of hardware I ever remember lusting after was a cassette player. I was pretty young back then, and a cassette player was innovative! As I got a little older, making “mix tapes” for girls you liked was all the rage. I enjoyed being able to record things, and play them back. These days, we take audio and video recording for granted. Back then… it was really high tech stuff!

I still have several of my old cassettes. I want to start archiving those memories into MP3 format, so that I can save them. There’s a few different ways that you can accomplish this, using various pieces of hardware. The folks at ThinkGeeksent me something that will help me do this easily… the ION USB Cassette Deck. It works with either Windows or Mac OS X, and comes with its own software. I have to warn you, though. Even though the hardware is an excellent device, I don’t recommend using the software. It’s not so great.

It’s a dual cassette deck of sorts. You can dub from one deck to another. Or, I can use a USB connection and play it back on my computer… and record it from there if I wish. I recommend downloading the free version of Audacity in order to record and edit your audio files.

Pop open the cassette deck and throw your tape in. I still have the first cassette I ever purchased – Twisted Sister. Tell me you remember the song “We’re Not Gonna Take It”. It’s a classic that’s still played often today! Hey… I loved them back in the day. What’s wrong with liking the song now?!

The ION features LED Audio Level Indicators to let you know when it detects music on one side or the other. The “A” deck is for cassette playback only. The “B” deck can be used to play and record. Copy your music from one cassette to another at regular OR high-speed. There are several nifty little add-ons for all of you cassette junkies!

I do like this gadget, and will be using it quite a bit. I am having a great time going down memory lane and putting faces, names and memories with each song on the tapes.

What’s the first piece of hardware you remember lusting after?

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World’s Shortest USB Cable

Chris — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 01:07:46 +0000

World’s Shortest USB Cable is a post from Chris Pirillo

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I hate having super-long USB cables when all I really need is one that’s an inch or two long. It’s such a waste of space, especially when I’m traveling. Thank goodness the folks at ThinkGeek have the iStubz to charge my iPhone with!

The iStubz is only 3 inches long, and I promise that those three inches will satisfy you! It works with any USB-compatible iPod or iPhone, and is compatible with Windows, Mac and Linux. You don’t need cables strung all over Hell and half of Georgia. Using a nice short cable keeps things de-cluttered and organized.

If you’re interested in grabbing the iStubz for yourself – or anything from ThinkGeek for that matter – make sure you take advantage of the ThinkGeek coupons that I have for you. Why pay full price for anything?!

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World’s Geekiest Rice Cooker

Chris — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 09:23:44 +0000

World’s Geekiest Rice Cooker is a post from Chris Pirillo

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Being the gadget-lover that I am, I have been on the cookout for the Geekiest rice cooker out there! I finally found it, and I love it! It’s the Zojirushi Micom 3-Cup Rice Cooker and Warmer. I bought it in the stainless steel finish, to match the other appliances in my kitchen. It’s easy to use, Geeky enough to make me happy, and makes delicious rice!

There are several different ways I can cook my rice, with just the touch of a button. I can choose to change the consistency from soft to medium to hard! I can even change up the type of rice I cook: white, sushi, porridge, brown, and quick cooking! There’s a built-in timer if I want to watch the minutes go by, and it comes with a rice spatula and measuring cup. A rice spatula what?? I’ve never even heard of one, but apparently I need it!

I love to eat rice, flavored in many different ways. This handy new Geeky cooker makes it ten times easier on me to make sure that I cook it to perfection.

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Sonos

Chris — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 00:55:05 +0000

Sonos is a post from Chris Pirillo

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I am able to change the music I’m listening to throughout my house by controlling it from one small little tool! This is one of the best things I’ve used in quite awhile, for sure. The Sonos Controller gives you instant access to all your music and all the rooms in your house, with just the touch of a finger… even from my iPhone!

Turn off what’s playing downstairs while you’re still upstairs, or change the song playing in your bedroom while you’re in the living room. You don’t have to aim the remote at anything in particular, since it’s all wireless… and works seemingly like magic! Play the same song in every room of your house – or different things in different rooms, depending on what everyone wants to hear.

The best part of all is the many different ways you can listen to music with Sonos. Listen to the music collection on your computer, or a free Internet radio station. Or better yet – subscribe to a music service (I use Rhapsody), and listen to that. The possibilites are nearly endless.

These are simple to use out of the box – you don’t have to be a gadget genius to figure it out! There’s really no reason I can think of that you wouldn’t want one of these.

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PokenZoo: The Death of Business Cards? (+ a PokenZoo coupon)

coupons — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 16:11:40 +0000

PokenZoo: The Death of Business Cards? (+ a PokenZoo coupon) is a post from Chris Pirillo

Maura Desimone, from Color & Design Trends, recently discovered PokenZoos.

PokenZoo….they’re calling it a “Social Networking Accessory”. It could be a contributing factor in the phasing out of business cards as we know them. It’s this cool little flash drive type character that allows you to instantly transfer your contact information to other PokenZoo owners with just a touch. It’s very similar to the “Bump” app on an iPhone. You set it up to hold your typical contact information like name, address, email,etc. – but then they take it a step further – you can also add your FaceBook, Twitter, MySpace and LinkedIn, etc. screen names & contact info. When you hold your Poken up to another Poken, it automatically reads your new contact’s information and shares yours. You can vary the settings to transfer different information at different times. Then you just plug it in to the usb port on your computer where you transfer the contact info to the poken web site for you to use when & where you like.

It looks like an ingenious gadget with a creative spin to it. One of my favorite features is the variety of characters you can choose from for your own personal Poken. And yes, they will print your logo on the back.

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Click on the photo below to see more cool PokenZoo characters…

uBoard Review

Chris — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 09:49:16 +0000

uBoard Review is a post from Chris Pirillo

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I do have a lot of desk space, but it’s still not enough. I could always build up if I wanted to, by adding shelves. This would allow me to put things on, under and around the shelving. What type of shelves would I use? I’m glad you asked! The uBoard is not just any old shelf, sitting there doing nothing. It’s an amazing addition to my work space!

Not only can the uBoard help keep your desk organized, it gives you a three-port USB hub! We never have enough USB ports around as Geeks, do we? I know I don’t. You’ll also find a cup holder/notepad holder on the other side of this handy little shelf.

The uBoard is thin and lightweight, and will easily go with your office decor – no matter what style or colors you’ve chosen. You can place your laptop on the shelf, and put your keyboard underneath. You can use your uBoard for any number of things – all of which can help free up your space, and keep you more organized.

I know my uBoard will stay on my desk, and be put to good use. How will you use your uBoard?

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What’s the World’s Smallest Video Recorder?

Chris — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 20:53:09 +0000

What’s the World’s Smallest Video Recorder? is a post from Chris Pirillo

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Pixie might think she’s fooling me, but I always see her sitting in my chair. However, I had to make her move since I needed to record this video talking about the uCorder. It’s possibly the World’s smallest recorder, but don’t let the size fool you. It’s an excellent little device, and one I am sure you will be happy to have. What would you use it for if you owned one of these?

The uCorder allows you the convenience of Wearable Video Recording plus the benefit of a Webcam. The 3.5-Inch recorder can easily be attached to your clothing, and is ideal for recording different aspects of your life, hands-free! When connected to a computer, the uCorder can be set to function as a Webcam for use in popular chat programs and it includes a clip-on stand.

At the touch of a button, you can record VGA quality video files in AVI format, with a resolution of 640×480. Files are saved to the unit’s internal 2GB memory, but you can of course purchase a Micro SD card to expand that. Files can be transferred to any computer using a simple USB connection, so it works with Mac or PC! Even the battery is USB-charged, so you never have to buy stock in Duracell.

It’s portable, it’s affordable, and it’s lightweight. The uCorder is an excellent recorder to keep up with your hectic lifestyle.

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Is This the Ultimate Game Controller?

Chris — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 04:36:00 +0000

Is This the Ultimate Game Controller? is a post from Chris Pirillo

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I met up with Cyrus while I was at PAX recently. He demonstrated for me (and all of you) what could possibly be the coolest, most uber-ultimate game controller ever! Imagine never having to pick up and hold a controller again, or mash keys on your poor, overworked keyboard. Imagine, if you will, that all you have to do is slip on a glove.

The Peregrine Glove gives you the power to control your game with the touch of a finger – literally. There’s no need to have to look down at a keyboard, or fumble for the correct keystrokes. Your game is now a part of you.

You can perform over 30 unique actions simply by touching your fingers, your palm or your thumb. Cyrus claims that it’s not as difficult to get used to as you would think. He demonstrated the Peregrine Glove while playing a game he’s been running for about four years. He said after probably 20 minutes, he had the basic hang of things. And, in under two hours he was playing like a pro using only the Peregrine Glove!

Free yourself from the constraints of cumbersome mice and keyboards when you’re playing your favorite game. Get rid of mis-strokes during a battle. Just touch your fingers together, and you’ll be wondering how you ever lived without this in your life.

Essential Reality P5 Gaming Glove

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Kodak Zi8 Review

Chris — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 02:24:39 +0000

Kodak Zi8 Review is a post from Chris Pirillo

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You might remember my review of the Kodak Zi6 awhile back. The folks at Kodak recently sent me the new Zi8 to review – and I’m very thankful they have. I really like what they have done with it!

For one thing, this video was recorded using the Zi8, and no tripod. I wanted to show off the amazing Digital Image Stabilization on this little machine. Pretty awesome, isn’t it? The Zi8 also allows me to hook up an external microphone, to allow for better sound quality. That, my friends, makes this gadget priceless in my book. The frame-rate is perfect in low-light situations!

I recorded in 720p at 60fps! That may not be apparent if you’re watching on YouTube, but it will be if you use the download link below. Kodak also kept with the macro feature. You can see while looking at my Bamboo tree, the tree comes into focus and fades away the background. You can easily switch between focal points with just the flick of a button.

There is, of course, a built-in USB port, allowing you to connect to your computer and upload direct to YouTube and other sites if you wish. The Zi8 has a slot for additional storage of up to 32GB. That will hold more pictures and videos than you will likely ever take.

I highly recommend the Zi8. It’s a great recorder, with excellent quality video output. At less than $200.00, it’s an excellent buy, as well.

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This is the Truly Universal Storage Adapter

Chris — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 06:10:53 +0000

This is the Truly Universal Storage Adapter is a post from Chris Pirillo

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Your media reader may be able to handle many things, but can it handle an IDE drive – externally? Can it handle a SATA drive? A truly universal storage adapter is what you need, such as the NexStar Universal Storage Adapter.

This adapter provides the flexibility of connecting almost any type of storage device to your computer. Whether it is a hard drive, optical drive, SSD, IDE/SATA or a memory card, this adapter does it all. Easily backup, transfer, copy files from your new or old storage devices conveniently through a fully hot-swappable USB interface.

This definitely seems to be the adapter to beat. It is a 66-in-one reader, which is just insane to think about! It connects via simple USB device, making it even easier. Of course, if you need to connect a hard drive to it, there are proper power cords included to make that happen.

Long story short, if you’re looking for a new media-reader and/or to be able to connect a hard drive with ease… look no further than the Vantec NexStar Universal Storage Adapter!

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Do You Want a Tablet for Your PC or Mac?

Chris — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 01:49:38 +0000

Do You Want a Tablet for Your PC or Mac? is a post from Chris Pirillo

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What’s your favorite input device? Maybe your favorite is your mouse or a track pad. Have you thought about trying something different – maybe a tablet surface, in conjunction with a stylus and a mouse? As long as your computer has a USB port, you can control it using either the stylus or the mouse!

The Genius MousePen Graphics Tablet is likely one of the coolest new gadgets you’ll find. The 6-Inch x 8-Inch working area with the cordless pen and mouse is great for Windows and MAC users to write, draw, sketch or sign emails. Just click the pen on any of the 29 programmable shortcut keys for instant access to Office and Internet functions.

You can use it to enter text in some kind of application on your computer. You can use it to edit photos, or even paint! It’s a pressure-sensitive device – up to 1024 levels, which is a tad tricky to get used to. I did my best trying to demonstrate it!

It’s not only a fantastic media tool for designers, a fun input device for a computer. Improve your hand-eye coordination while using the coolest and hottest new input device.

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How to Handle Remote Tech Support

chris@lockergnome.com (Chris Pirillo) — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 06:30:00 GMT

Using GoToAssist is the easiest way to view and control another person's computer online. Use it to provide instant technical support to family, friends and customers. Start a session with just one click, and instantly connect with the other party.

Network Tools for Windows

chris@lockergnome.com (Chris Pirillo) — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 06:30:00 GMT

You need these network tools, no matter which operating systems and networks you have to support. SolarWinds ipMonitor: Affordable Network Monitoring for SMBs. Get turnkey network, server and application availability monitoring with SolarWinds ipMonitor v9.0. This easy-to-use, reliable solution for SMBs delivers out-of-the-box availability monitoring so you always know exactly what's up with Active Directory, DNS, Exchange, FTP, Web, IMAP, MS SQL Server, and SMTP. Download your free trial today. Or, try their totally free tools! And, through 2/29, save 20% when you purchase ipMonitor 9.0.

Get Your Own Web Site

chris@lockergnome.com (Chris Pirillo) — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 06:30:00 GMT

Starting at just $3.99/month, web hosting from GoDaddy includes 99.9% uptime, 24/7 support and free access to GoDaddy Hosting Connection, THE place to install over 30 FREE applications sure to help you get the most from your hosting plan and Web site. Enter code CP2 at checkout, and save an additional 10% on any order.

Plus, as a friend of Chris Pirillo, enter code CHRIS7, that's C-H-R-I-S and the number 7, when you check out, and save an additional 10% on any order. Get your piece of the internet at GoDaddy.com.

VMware and Parallels for Virtual Machines

chris@lockergnome.com (Chris Pirillo) — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 06:30:00 GMT

It doesn't matter if you're running on Windows or Mac OS X - every power user needs either Parallels or VMware (or both). There's never been an easier way to test software without destroying your primary operating system's stability. Think of how many times you wish you could press a 'reverse' button on your computer. Plus, there's no easier way to try new Linux distributions - see what all the fuss is about. Run Windows in OS X, run Linux in Windows, but the best way to do either is with VMware and/or Parallels.

Coupons for Online Shopping

chris@lockergnome.com (Chris Pirillo) — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 07:56:13 GMT

This feed is fueled by Lockergnome Online Shopping and Coupon Codes

Before you shop next time, see if we have a coupon first.