iGads!

Happy Birthday to......

iTunes?

Yep, hard to believe but this week (actually Monday) iTunes celebrated it's fifth birthday. Like it or not, it changed a whole lot in everyone's life. Even if you don't use iTunes (yet) you either have bought an iPod or other MP3 player for someone or some other connection is there.

This past January, the king Apple, CEO Steve Jobs announced that 4 billion songs were sold on iTunes in 2007. At about $1 each, you do the math.

Now users get music, video content, movie rentals, endless amounts of podcasts and I'm sure much more to come. Artists are even beginning to make current releases only available on iTunes. Starbucks gives you a new free song just for buying coffee!

If you don't know what iTunes is, as I've said before, you need to get out of your cave. Either way, go have some cake on them.

--Gregg Ellman

Stox for stocks

Not that you want to do it these days, but at somepoint in the future I'm sure everyone will once again want to track their stock portfolio on a daily basis and Stox V1.1 from JoeSoft
is management software for the Mac.

It will research, track and give you analysis on stocks along with concise, timely information to help you manage your stock portfolio in a simple, single window format that is password protected and local to your computer.

Included is technical charts with ability to rearrange charts, new portfolio/equity value graphing, stock ticker features and much more.

The interest rates are set to drop again today, which might make things look better so get Stox today at www.JoeSoft.com for $49.95 and at authorized partners. Current owners of Stox 1.0 can download the free update to 1.1 from www.joesoft.com.

-- Gregg Ellman

More for your ears

A rep from AirDrives Interactive Earphones saw my posting below on the V-Moda earphones and said Hey - what about me!

So now I tell you about AirDrives Interactive Earphones which is another gift for Mom or Dads and Grads in the next few weeks.

They are (from an email, I haven't seen these - YET) a fabulously functional gift for mothers who want to remain aware of their surroundings while listening to their iPods.  The unique outer-ear design enables users to listen to music while also hearing ambient sound, thus allowing them to remain socially engaged – a benefit for moms who need to stay alert and aware while caring for children or working on chores or errands.

AirDrives Interactive Earphones deliver rich, natural sound and the outer-ear design makes them more comfortable than conventional ear buds.  In addition, AirDrives exceeded OSHA standards of safe listening and are approved for all-day listening.

So there you have it, equal space for everyone!

-- Gregg Ellman

Where's the mouse?

The MoGo Mouse is a Bluetooth-enabled business-card shaped, wireless mouse, which stores and charges in the laptop’s PC-card slot.

It works the same as a laser mouse, can also double as a wireless media remote or a cordless presenter and it has Bluetooth.

Two versions exist of this mouse - MoGo Media Mouse X54 and the MoGo Presenter Mouse X54 Pro.

It has a kickstand for better positioning, controls iTunes and many other media functions.

One of the best features (I think from what I've read - I should have a review on this soon after I get one) is it's charged and stored in the card slot on a laptop - making it ideal for traveling.

Read more about it here.

-- Gregg Ellman

It's live and available now

Memorex today added two digital audio players to its lineup; the MMP8590 Digital Media Player and the mini Clip & Play MP3 Player.

The MMP8590 Digital Media Player has up to 4GB of flash memory, a 1.5-inch color OLED screen with photo viewer and a digital FM radio. You can get it in white, pink/white and black.

It plays MP3, WMA, WMA-DRM 10, WAV and JPEG files, has a digital voice recorder, stop watch function and equalizer with presets. The built-in lithium-ion battery will give you up to 12 hours of listening time.

And there's more (even if you don't order before midnight tonight): Included is a sport arm strap, earbud headphones, USB cable and music management software. A 4GB version for $69.99 is available and the suggested retail price of $59.99 will get you the 2GB model.

The Clip & Play MP3 Player has 2GB of flash memory in a white, pink or black compact design. It's designed for use on a walk, run, bike ride or working out. It also features a built-in FM radio, two-line dot matrix OLED display and equalizer with presets to play MP3, WMA and WMA-DRM-10 files.

Also included is music management software, a lithium-ion battery (10 hours) earbud headphones, and a USB cable and software CD for an SRP of $49.99.

-- Gregg Ellman

Pictures in the park

Today's gas prices might not want you to get in your car for a summer vacation to visit a national or state park, but Canon sure does.

Canon U.S.A., Inc., the leader in digital imaging products, is having their third annual Canon Photography In The Parks Photo Contest. It runs from April 22nd to September 30th, 2008, and all you have to do is submit images from any park or monument in America with the theme being “Inspirational Nature Images,” the theme for this year’s contest.

Sorry kids, its only open to non-professional photographers ages 13 and up.

So whats in it for you? If you win the contest, you'll get a trip to a park of their choice, and a full suite of Canon photographic equipment.

More information is at www.usa.canon.com/parks

-- Gregg Ellman

Gear for the digital lifestyle

Kensington Computer Products Group has a new keyboard geared towards the digital lifestyle.

The new Ci70 has built-in USB 2.0 ports so users can use it to transfer digital data including digital photos directly from a camera to their computer right through the Ci70 itself, without the need for additional wires or cables.

Flash drives, cell phones and MP3 players can also be hooked up with it, making it unnecessary for the user to have to dig to the USB ports on the back of the computer itself.

It has two USB 2.0 ports and one mini USB port at the top of the keyboard for easy access along with a sliding panel to keep the ports out of site when they are  not in use.

A price of $49.99 will be you the device and more information on this and other great Kensington products is at www.kensington.com.

Better sound for mom

Another possible mother's day gift (assuming you weren't cheap and already bought her the iPod for Christmas) is a rosy Blush colored set of V-MODA's luxurious VIBE noise-cancelling earphones.

Just in time for Mother's Day, VIBE Blush will be hitting store shelves at the Apple Store on Monday, May 5. 

They weigh in at just 12 grams and with the V-MASQUE dynamic driver technology, they  promise a precise yet natural soundstage. BLISS (Bass Level Isolating Soft Silicon) technology reduces outside noise for a rich bass response (frequency 12 Hz to 22Hz)

The VIBE Blush will be available for $99 at the Apple Store starting on Monday, May 5.

Go to www.v-moda.com for more info.

-- Gregg Ellman

Snitch in the trunk

I recently tested a gadget, which will be (and should be) every teenagers nightmare.

It's a GPS device that a parent can hide in a car or backpack and watch on a website every turn the car takes in any city. Also they will know how fast the car is going.

And best of all, it works great. The GPS Snitch is a wireless vehicle security and tracking device to tell you where something else is.

Tracking on the $399 device is at the owner’s discretion. You track its whereabouts on a website or even have a text message sent of its location. A monthly fee’s ranging from $14.99 to $169.99 will purchase you credits, with each time you track the device a credit is used.

Information: www.gps-snitch.com

-- Gregg Ellman

Mother's Day gifts

Just in time for Mother's Day, Memorex has some stylish new digital photo frames; the Special Occasions and Floral digital frames.

A high-gloss, white finish, plus four interchangeable inserts is featured in the Special Occasions digital photo frame . This includes one with a silver metallic finish and three with wedding, baby boy and baby girl motifs.

The frame has slide-show transition effects and features a seven-inch wide screen LCD display and supports photos in JPEG format, with 480x234 screen resolution. A USB port and 2-in-1 memory card slot make it easy to load images into the frame.

The Floral digital photo frame combines style with technology. Features include a blue silkscreen floral design on a sleek brown frame. The frame also has a seven-inch widescreen LCD display for viewing JPEG photos in 480x234 screen resolution. It also has the mini USB port and cable, AC adapter, and a 4-in-1 memory card slot to supports today’s popular memory card formats.

Expect the frames out in May with a MSRP of $89.99. More information is available here.

-- Gregg Ellman