Latest Tech News

Weekend of April 10th, 2009

We've got great tips to help you master your gadgets. Are you looking for the perfect Netbook? Learn about Laptop Magazine's "Top 5" recommended netbooks and more.

Guests joining Dave this week include:

 

HOUR 1:
Jason Snell, VP & Editorial Director - Macworld
Are you having trouble with your iPhone or iPod Touch? Jason has some advice and great tips to master your devices. Macworld is a source for news, reviews, help and how-to, videos, and podcasts for the Apple market.

HOUR 2:
Marian Merritt, Internet Safety Advocate - Symantec
Are you affected by Conficker and not aware? Marian is here to tell us about this year's most talked about "April Fool's Joke". Symantec is the maker of popular and award-winning Norton PC security software.

HOUR 3:
Joanna Stern, News Editor & Netbook Queen - Laptop Magazine
Are you on the market for a netbook? Joanna reviews the "Top 5 Netbooks" available now. LAPTOP provides news, reviews, advice and insights on mobile tech.

Into Tomorrow Product Spotlight with Rob Almanza

 

Siso Tablo from Hantech - Transform your laptop to "Tablet PC-like".

 

Tablo is an innovative pen input device performing tablet functions. It's compatible with Windows XP and Vista. You can perform many different tasks with it. Here are some of my favorite and most useful:

1) Microsoft Outlook: You can compose messages by handwriting them instead of typing. Handy if you don’t type as fast as you handwrite.

2) Windows Messenger: If you use Messenger, you may have noticed a “pen” icon next to the letter “A” on your message window. Well, with the Tablo you can write your messages and even doodle.

Image from Hantech

3) Microsoft Word: You can use the Tablo to sign agreements or invoices or write a letter in your own handwriting.

4) Draw and paint: You can draw using Microsoft Paint, Adobe Photoshop or Illustrator. I’m not a Photoshop pro, so I draw on Microsoft’s Paint program and have used it to create some basic graphics.

5) 3D Space Gaming: This is my favorite thing about the Tablo. You can play many games, including a Ping Pong match like we showed on this week’s ITTV Video. The Ping Pong game is from CandyStand.com. There are all sorts of free games on that website that I’ve been playing since 7th grade in middle school.

The Tablo is an innovative tool that will take some getting used to at first. The handwriting recognition will take some practice, so be sure to train your computer.

I was disappointed with the calibration process. It took me 4 tries until I got the calibration to where I wanted it. I also find it kind of awkward when writing on the screen, since my screen doesn’t flip, obviously. The pen can do tablet-like functions, but it can’t turn your screen around like real Tablet PCs! Also, wen writing in word or drawing, there were times when the pen would think I was still writing, so it would scribble all over my work and sometimes it was hard to ‘undo’.

The Tablo is available for about $99.

Reviewed by Rob Almanza

Additional Resources & Websites Mentioned on this Week's Program

How to Install a Media Card into your BlackBerry - Online Tutorial

Looking for web host? Read this: Finding the Best Web Hosting Service And this: Top 10 Web Hosting - Best Web Hosts

Looking for the best iPod for you? Apple can help: "Which iPod Are You?"

iPods Available from Newegg.com

Want to monitor your child's Internet usage? Check out SpectorPro from SpectorSoft.

Green Gadgets that are worth trying:
- Conserve Energy-Saving Surge Protector from Belkin -- 8 Outlets | 10 Outlets
- Motorola's W233 Renew Cell Phone

Technological resources for the visually-impaired: Freedom Scientific

Bluetooth headsets & handsfree products recommended by Into Tomorrow:
- BlueAnt z9i Bluetooth Headset
- BlueAnt SuperTooth Light Bluetooth Handsfree Speakerphone
- Jawbone

 

How-To Download YouTube Videos - Rob Almanza's solution:

My favorite and easy way to do it is using FireFox (the Internet Browser). There's an add-on called "Download Helper" that keeps track of the media you watch in cache.

Here's what you do:

1) Once you download that add-on, log onto YouTube and let the video load entirely. Then, under the "Tools" menu, look for "DownloadHelper". When you mouse-over you'll see an option called "Media". When you mouse-over that, you'll see two file names of the video you're currently watching.

2) The first file is the current video (in flash) you're watching and the second file is with brackets and called "[HQ...]". (That stands for High Quality) Click on that one.

3) It should prompt you to save on your computer and you'll notice the file extension is an MP4 (usually).

4) After it downloads, open iTunes. Then, locate it and import into your "Movies" library. That's it!

Some videos may only be available in "FLV" or Flash mode. You'll need a file converter to be able to transfer to your iPod. There are many free options online. On my Mac, I use a program called "KIGO Video Converter". It's easy and FREE!

If you have any questions, please email them to Rob here.

This Week’s Prizes for Our Listeners

iChime: Several of the "Play Anything" Doorbell
iFrogz: NervePipes EarPollution headphones (assorted colors & cool designs)
iPopperz: Several fun earbuds including: Jewelz, Sportz & Colorz
Pinnacle Systems: A Dazzle DVD Recorder - Transfer VHS tapes to DVD

 

ITTV Video

Learn how you can perform Tablet PC-like functions on your laptop using the Siso Tablo from Hantech on this week's Into Tomorrow Product Spotlight with Rob Almanza. Also featuring: This Week In Tech History with Chris Graveline.

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