Nextar 3.5” Photo Frame Review

I have wanted a digital photo frame to display pictures of my family and friends on my desk for a while now. I recently found a really good deal on a Nextar 3.5” frame and decided to get it. While the 3.5” screen was smaller than I originally wanted, I decided that it was too good of a deal to pass up. Now, I must say, I wish I had! This isn’t to say that there are not positive aspects, just that the negatives outweigh the positives for me.

Pros:

· Price: It was very cheap in comparison to many frames. I was able to get it online for under $30.

· Screen Size: When I first pulled the frame out of the box, I was encouraged. The 3.5” screen appeared bigger than expected and is plenty big for my small desk. A standard 7” screen may be a bit overwhelming.

· Power: The cable allows me to power the frame straight from my computer or I can use the AC – USB adapter to plug into the wall. The 3’ cable is also a nice length to allow me to place the frame anywhere on my desk.

Cons:

· Screen: While I like the size of the screen and it is nice and bright, the quality leaves MUCH to be desired. Photos from my Sony Cyber-Shot H3 look like they were taken with a $2 disposable and scanned in. Whites are completely washed out and darker colors are almost pixilated.

· Software: The software is very restrictive and gives me only two options. Play slideshow or manage images. It would be nice to have a contrast control, which I think might help the image quality.

· Adding images: This process is atrocious. Even though it comes with a USB cable, it is for power ONLY. The only way to get images onto the frame is to insert your memory card and either copy one at a time or everything from the card. This was VERY disappointing because there are many pictures I want to add that are on my computer. To get these on I will have to transfer them to a card then add them to the frame. Talk about a usability nightmare!

· Batteries: While this is not a show stopper for me, many frames offer the option to run on battery power so it doesn’t need to be plugged in at all times.

Bottom Line:

As you can tell and I already stated, I am not the biggest fan of this frame. It has a nice feel and looks good but the terrible image handling and display make it a tough choice. After using it, it certainly seems as cheap as it actually was. Maybe this is a lesson for me to look for a bit more quality and not be mesmerized by a “shiny” price tag.

Interesting Article on the economy and mortgages.

An economist argues that mortgage modification programs discourage people from working.

read more | digg story

Windows Live Family Safety

Windows Family Safety is a home computer monitoring service that allows you to control everything from keyword filters (to block inappropriate content in searches and websites) to access controls.  It is quite a powerful program that gives parents some peace of mind when allowing their children to use the computer on a regular basis.  The main features offered by Family Safety include:

• Content Filtering: This feature allows you to set separate filters for each child based on content you do not want the children to see online.  This is basically a keyword monitor that restricts access to searches and sites with inappropriate content.
• Activity Reports:  This feature lets you see all computer activity for each child.  It provides a good high overview that can be drilled down if necessary. 
• Contact Management: This feature allows you to set restrictions on who your child can chat with, email, or interact with on their blog.  This has one major flaw however, this control is limited to the Windows Live products (Messenger, Live Spaces, Mail, etc.).  While there are certainly ways to keep your kids from using other services, it may be a bit naive to think they couldn’t get around a feature this limited.

As a user, I certainly have reservations about content controls, but, as a parent, some of these tools will prove to be invaluable.  Now, in my opinion, there is a fine line that must be walked here.  The Internet provides a great repository of knowledge and potential for learning.  I know I am a more rounded individual based on the knowledge I have had access to and chosen to gain from using the Internet to my advantage and I want to make sure my kids have the same opportunities.  I am certainly less about control and more about monitoring.  A product like this will give me the opportunity to keep an eye on my kids and their activity and inform me where I may need to intervene.  The idea of many of these control features put too many restrictions on access and “dumb down” the potential that is available.  As my kids get older, I look forward to helping them harness the knowledge potential available to help them grow. 

Until next time…

Cozi.com Family Calendar

A quick walkthrough of a nice calendar application, Cozi.

Nokia N97

Nokia unveiled the latest breed of pocket pc/smart phone with the announcement of the Nokia N97 at Nokia World today. The phone, which is set to come to market summer 2009, combines many of the most desired features of the current heavy hitters. The large beautiful screen promises to provide a seamless touch screen display that allows you to create a mobile computing experience second to none. The inclusion of an onscreen keyboard and a full QWERTY slide out keyboard is sure to please all the typing critiques alike. A first look the N97 looks like it will have a feature set backed by Nokia quality that I think will prove to gain a quality following of users. This is yet another product in the trend of pocket computing. I’m sure this phone will be hyped just as the others were but only time will tell how well it will perform. Stay Tuned…

NXE is here!

After much anticipation over the past several months,  it is finally here.  I officially updated my Xbox 360 to the New Xbox Experience dashboard at 6:45am this morning.  I had little time to play around with it before heading to work but was able to create my avatar and click through the main channels.   The avatar creation process was very straightforward and I was able to create an online representative I am happy with.  Netflix integration, certainly one of the most exciting new features, was not working when I tried.  I got an error message that communication could not be made with the Microsoft servers.  I can only assume this is either due to the large number of updates the server was working through or that it was too early in the day.  Speaking of Netflix, I read an article yesterday that Sony pictures will not make their content available for the 360.  Representatives from Microsoft seemed confident that they would come to a deal but there was no timeline given.  I am really looking forward to sitting down and really digging into the new features.  I really hope it doesn’t disappoint.

Traveling with Technology

I have been on the road/in the air quite a bit in the past week and have made a few observations about traveling with a variety of technology tools (computer, cell phone, ipod, etc.).  

• The first thing I noticed is the availability of WiFi in airports.  Each airport I have been in this year has offered WiFi but it hasn’t always been free.  Chicago Midway and Detroit both offer services from Boingo.  While $7.95/day is not much, it isn’t an economical option for the traveler who is on a short layover and just wants to check email.  I much prefer the system that the Vegas airport uses; free ad based service.  I don’t care about looking at a few ads as long as I can get a quick look at my email and the latest poll results.   
• Second, many airports need to bump up their power access!  It can be like pulling teeth trying to find a place to plug in a laptop or charge a phone.  The best setup I have seen has been in Chicago (I think it is Southwest handy work too).  At the gates, they provide a nice row of leather seats with standard and USB power for each.  It is VERY nice and gave me the option to charge all of my electronics. 
• Third, I think it is about time that airplanes come standard with power outlets at each seat.  While on a fairly long 4 hour flight last week, my iPod crapped out on my while I was watching a video podcast.  To charge it I had to load up my computer and plug in.  There is already little room in these planes and pulling out my computer just to charge my iPod isn’t really appealing. 
• Last, I have read a few articles about airlines testing WiFi offerings on their planes.  I am ALL for this.  There is no better way to use the down time in a plane than catching up on email or reading the latest news.  I hope this will become standard on all planes in the near future!

From Camera to 3D

I was exploring some new Microsoft products after attending a webinar earlier this week and came across an interesting tool called Photosynth from Microsoft Live Labs.  Photosynth takes photos you take of a person, item or scenery and stitches them together to create a full view 3D object.  While this is a neat tool and could be very beneficial to some markets (think education), it is not a practical tool for the everyday user/phototaker.  The reason; to get this 3D rendering you have to take MANY pictures of the object.  In some of the examples, number of images were well above 100 OF A SINGLE ITEM.  Like I said though, this is a specialized tool that isn’t necessarily intended for the standard consumer market.  Imagine you are a social studies teacher teaching your students about the Sphinx.  Showing students a few images is neat, now imagine being able to take them on a virtual 3D fieldtrip where they can see it from all angles.  That is downright cool!

Wireless Charging?

Nobody likes charging their electronics.  The wires constantly get in our way, they are terrible to keep track of, and can frankly be a pain.  This is where wireless charging comes in.  In a decade where it seems everything is going wireless (internet, projectors, headphones, microphones, and speakers just to name a few) it is only logical that wireless charging would follow.  Through a lot of heavy lifting by a few research institutions, this futuristic thought will become reality for many people soon.  The first of these devices to come to market is the  Wildcharge.  You simply plug this slab of plastic/metal into the wall and lay your electronic devices on the surface and voila, charging is active.  The catch is that you have to buy a special back plate for your devices with probes that transfer the power to your battery.  This device, and others of its kind are a stepping stone.  The University of Florida has a similar device that functions without the special back plate, certainly a step forward.  Now, going even further, MIT is working on true wireless charging device that removed the charging slab altogether.  Basically, the device plugs in and transmits the charging signals to all of your specified devices; cell phone, laptop, iPod, etc.  (who knows, maybe even toasters and TVs!).  Just imagine walking into your house and immediately your devices start charging until they are fully powered!  Sign me up!

Sony Mylo

 

We were at the mall last night so I popped into the Sony Style store while my wife was looking at clothes.  While I was there I picked up the Sony Mylo Internet device which is somewhat comparable to the iPod Touch.  My initial reaction was very positive.  The full keyboard seemed very easy to use and there were many features that were appealing.  GPS, microphone, and integrated VOIP support really made me think this might be a viable option as an alternative to my forthcoming iPod Touch.  While my time in the Style store was short, I felt it was necessary to do some research to compare the Sony with other devices (primarily the Touch).  Since we were there, I also found it necessary to head down to the Apple store.  Like always, I played around with the Macbooks and, of course, the iPod Touch.  Style wise, I don’t know if the iPhone/Touch can be touched at this moment.  I have looked at and handled a variety of touch screen devices and ALWAYS compare them to the iPhone/Touch.  They all have great features (and some even do things better) but the entire experience just seems better on the iPhone/Touch.  Still, I felt it necessary to show the Mylo my respect and find comparisons online when I got home.  After a brief search I found a variety of side by side comparisons.  Like I said, the Mylo has several features that make it an appealing product (GPS, microphone, VOIP, full keyboard).  However,  the lack of substantial built-in memory (only 1gig), music support, expandable apps and user experience I must conclude that I am not sold on the device and will holdout until Christmas for my iPod Touch.  I am looking forward to really getting my hands on it and seeing if my opinion changes.

Until next time…

Multitouch Technology

I read an interesting article from Wired.com today about the future of multitouch technology (think the finger flicking gestures on the iphone/touch).  Manufacturers are trying to figure out how they might use this technology in their knew hardware devices.  Part of the conversation would be to add gesture controls to a laptops touchpad for additional controls.  This may provide some nice features but  I don’t think it will really take off.  There isn’t enough direct correlation for people to really get into using the features in that way.  Now, I do see potential in the tablet pc market.  Multitouch could provide an amazing array of control on these computers where you do touch the screen regularly, making it a natural transition.  Of course, multimedia software will probably be the first to jump on the bandwagon giving the user complete control with their fingers.  It will certainly take some getting used to, but think about being able to zoom in/out on a Word document without navigating up to the View tab.  The possibilities are seemingly endless.  Microsoft has already announced that multitouch technology will be built-in to the upcoming Windows 7 (scheduled to replace Vista in 2010).  I am excited to keep an eye on this to see where it will evolve!

Google Maps

Twice in the past month Google Maps has failed me to point that I have stopped using the service.  I was travelling for work (once in Detroit and once in New York) and had printed maps to get to and from my destinations (I don’t have a GPS so this is my best option).  In Detroit, I followed the directions to end destination and was baffled when the school I was looking for was nowhere in sight.  I ended up stopping at a gas station and asking for directions.  I ended up being about five miles from my destination and about ten minutes late for my training, getting the day off on the wrong foot.  New York wasn’t quite as disastrous but it still led me astray telling me to follow roads that didn’t exist.  It was very frustrating.  I have since started using Mapquest for all my map needs.  Whether or not it would have made the same mistakes, I don’t know.   I’m sure I will give it another shot in the future but it will have to earn my loyalty next time!

L/Studio

So Lexus has started a new Web TV station called L/Studio with a variety of Internet only shows and clips. It is headlined by a Lisa Kudrow produced/starred series called Web Therapy. Kudrow plays a therapist that uses the web to conduct 3 minute therapy sessions with her clients. The episodes are short and though the content is limited it is worth a look. Check it out!

A place for Mini Computers

I must say, I stand corrected that there is a viable place in the market for mini computer like the Dell Netbook. I still stand by my opinion that hand held devices will handle most web browsing and basic text type editing in the near future. However, I think this trend is only viable in the consumer market. Mini computers will have a place in the education market. As schools (K12 and high ed) continue to implement 1:1 computer initiatives where every student has their own computers, these mini computers will have a place. Their low price point and ultra portability make them perfect for kiddos to carry around with them from class to class. In addition, most manufacturers try to make the mini pcs more durable to withstand the beating they are sure to get from students in the K12 market (this will only improve as solid state harddrives continue to increase in size and drop in price). I look forward to seeing how this progresses and am happy to be in an industry where I can watch it first hand!

Dell Mini 9 Netbook

I took a look at the new Dell Mini 9 Netbook today in an unboxing posted here. Looks like an interesting product by Dell that will prove to compete in this Mini computer/UMPC market. It seems like it is a solid machine with all the basic functionality of any notebook (Windows XP, basic collaboration software, basic office software, etc.). However, I still hold to the fact that these UMPCs do little more than handheld devices (iPhone/Touch, Blackberry, etc.). These are Internet devices that need to use network or cloud computing to bypass any storage on the solid state drives. The biggest advantage is screensize, which will be important to many users. I don't see the point in carrying a device of this size (as small as it may compare to a standard laptop) when I can get the same functionality in a handheld. Sure, at this point, applications must be specially built for most handheld devices while UMPCs will run standard software but this will be little use one as cloud computing continues to grow. Like I mentioned in my last post, noone is going to replace their standard laptop with a UMPC or a handheld computer. Each will simply have their own functions and I don't see a point in carting around a 2.5 pound device to surf the net. Maybe using one will change my mind but I say the device is worthless in 2 years.

iPod Touch

After much debate I have decided to concede the fact the the iPhone won't be coming to Verizon anytime soon. I would consider switched to AT&T but my wife talks to her family so much that I would have to quadruple our minutes just to cover her talktime. That being the case, I have now switched my focus to the iPod Touch. While it will be a pain to carry around two different mobile devices, it will provide most of the functionality I want (wifi internet, push email and calendar, music, and movies). The Touch/iPhone family (and other like devices) are really the future of computing. Sure, personal computers (desktops and laptops) will never go away but they will be specialty devices; editing videos, editing digital photos, and some word processing. Most standard computing (web browsing and email) the is typically done on your home or work computer will migrate to handheld devices as these pieces of technology continue to get more affordable and more powerful. It is really exciting to see this shift taking place. The Touch/iPhone have really brought this to the forefront of media attention even though the shift started years ago. I can't wait to join the millions of people who have already jumped on the bandwagon!