The Swedish Pirate Party (Piratpartiet), a political party whose main platforms include copyright and patent reform, have recently taken their efforts one step further and have launched an ISP (internet service provider). Dubbed “Pirate ISP,” the service seeks to offer anonymity to its users and to provide financial assistance to Piratpartiet.

Born out of the controversy surrounding the BitTorrent tracker The Pirate Bay, Pirate ISP was deemed necessary to ensure that competition flourished in the Swedish ISP market and that users who wished to file-share would be protected against the efforts of the Swedish anti-piracy lobby group, Svenska Antipiratbyrån. The piracy topic has been a hot-button issue in Sweden over the past several years, stemming from the popularity of The Pirate Bay as a source for copyrighted material. Because of the growth of the website, the United States government, along with trade associations the MPAA and the RIAA, have pressured Sweden and their ISPs to take action against file-sharing. This resulted  in the 2006 raid of the website’s Stockholm location by Swedish police, which put the site offline for three days.

The issue of file-sharing is not just a heated matter for Sweden, however. Various countries like the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia (among others) have adopted their own political parties in order to attempt reform of copyright and patent law. According to the Swedish Pirate Party’s website, “The Pirate Party wants to fundamentally reform copyright law, get rid of the patent system, and ensure that citizens’ rights to privacy are respected. With this agenda, and only this, we are making a bid for representation in the European and Swedish parliaments.”

So it seems this isn’t just about being able to get free stuff on the internet, but about policy reform and privacy. Many would argue that copyright has been perverted over the years, through abuse from large corporations. In addition, the market for internet service providers has become a near-monopoly in most countries and freedom of choice has been severely limited not only by lack of infrastructure, but also lobbying efforts on the parts of major telecom companies who posses a stranglehold on the market in many cities.

Personally, I would welcome this kind of change to our system in the United States if for nothing more than open debate of the issues, something we as a country are severely lacking.

It is no secret that I am an iPhone fan.  The saddest day of my gadget geek life is when I had to give mine up because AT&T is garbage. Now that I have seen the new iPhone 4, I am tempted to put up with the 20 dropped calls a week.

Every time I watch someone use an iPhone, a little piece of me dies.  I went to the Droid Eris about a year ago, and it is not the same.  The Android software was better than the iPhone software because you could customize the phone in any way you want; however, the hardware couldn’t compare.  I drank the customization Kool-aid happily until last week.

One of my coworkers was playing with his phone, and a small crowd had gathered.  I was intrigued.  As I got closer I could see the screen clarity from 10 feet away.  It made all others look like watching a closed circuit camera television in black and white.  Just seeing the screen took me back to the first time seeing HDTV, it was really that good.

Then I watched him turn on the HD video camera.  He was able to zoom with no noticeable image quality issues.  He then showed me a video of another coworker who was acting a fool not knowing he was being filmed.  He was able to go from camera to video to the album and back to the camera instantly.

And then he turned the phone over to me.  As I was looking at the screen I saw myself on the video.  This is part of the new iPhone 4′s video chat feature.  You can talk to another iPhone 4 user in a web conference.  Very cool feature.

Speaking of multitasking.  There is another major function worth noting.  By clicking the home button again, you bring up a scrolling menu across the bottom of the screen.  Here you see all the apps you had opened from the most recent and on.  It is a cinch to jump from task to task.

AT&T wireless service is terrible, but they do have this going for them.

Yes, it is real. A few weeks ago Apple decided to officially release the details about the iPhone 4. Basic information about the phone had already been leaked a few months ago because Gizmodo had gotten their hands on a iPhone 4 disguised as an older iPhone when an Apple worker left his phone on a stool in a bar, but Apple has now officially begun the ordering process for their new phone.

There are a lot of cool features about the iPhone 4; here are a few of them.

FaceTime: This new iPhone has two cameras. There is one in the front that focuses on you and then one in the back that focuses on everything else. With just a tap, you can switch between the two views and engage yourself in a video chat. Yes, you can now blow someone a kiss goodnight or wave hello.

Multitasking: For the longest time people have been complaining about how you cannot multi-task on my iPod products. I know that I was annoyed when I could not run my Pandora application at the same time as checking my e-mail on my iTouch. Well, Apple has created a method to allow you to multi-task.

Retina Display: This is one of their focus points. They say that they have the sharpest, most vibrant, and highest-resolution phone ever and that the pixel density is so high that the human eye will not be able to distinguish the individual pixels, but critics beg to differ.

Those are some of the main points that Apple focuses, but here are a few more things that stood out to me as I read about Apple’s latest phone.

The iPhone 4 is 4.5 x 2.31 inches, and 0.37 inches thick. It weighs 4.8 ounces (137 grams)– that’s not too bad! It is thinner and it uses a stainless steel rim to act as part of the antenna for the 3G and Wi-Fi. Another major difference is the Apple A4 chip that is inside of the phone. This is the same chip used in the iPad and it consumes less power because its sub-components can be switched on and off when they are not needed.

Here are a few of Apple’s figures:

• Talk over 3G: 7 hours.
• Browsing over 3G: 6 hours.
• Browsing over Wi-Fi: 10 hours.
• Video: 10 hours.
• Music: 40 hours.
• Stand-by: 300 hours.

We’ll see about that…

So, I seem to have this strange attraction to USB devices. From the World’s Smallest Microwave to USB Rocket Launchers and more, I tend to find a lot of cool gadgets and toys that work by being plugged into a USB port.

The gadget that I am about to write about will make you feel like a secret agent. I am not sure how ethically right having a little device like this would be or why you would need to have one in the first place, but they exist and they do sound pretty cool. What is it? Well, it is a portable GPS tracker that has been disguised as a USB stick. So, yes, it does work as a USB stick, but in reality, you would not be using it as a USB device.

It is a cross between a GPS receiver and a USB memory stick. What it does is store wherever you take it on the flash memory. However, the person who is borrowing your stick to copy a file over or something does not know of the little GPS’s powerful capabilities. Well, who says that you even have to have someone use it? You could just throw it into a car or plant it on a person because who would suspect a little USB stick to be such a sneaky”‘toy”.

You do need to eventually get the stick back in order to grab the data off of it. If you do not get it back, it will not be any use to you! Once you have it, all you have to do is connect it to your PC and download the data. The data then can be plotted on Google Earth, Google Maps, mapquest.com, and even virtual earth.  Once you have the data, you can know where the USB stick went, how long it was where it was, and how it got there.

Of course, you could just use it to track where you’ve gone on a vacation. We don’t all have to be evil masterminds.

Summer is here, as is the warm weather you have been awaiting to begin an outdoor exercise regimen.  So, now what are you going to do?

After speaking with Rachel at Brodeur Partners, she had a handful of suggestions for tools that you can use with your BlackBerry smartphone that will help with exercise, fitness, and nutrition.

If you are looking for something to supplement your workouts, here are some ideas:

• Track your speed, distance and calories burned with Trimble AllSport GPS. You also can wirelessly download routes, maps and training programs, and race virtually against yourself or other users – all for $19.99.
• Perfect for beginners, FitDeck Mobile leads you through 50 effective exercises that don’t require any equipment. You even can target specific body regions and customize the intensity as you build up stamina! At $14.99, it’s far cheaper than a personal trainer.
• For the exercise-savvy, Total Fitness offers the complete package for only $9.99: personal trainer + nutritionist in one! Stay on top of your goals with advanced graphs for exercise and nutritional tracking.

In addition to suggestions for tools to help with your exercise, there are tools that can help with your diet.  Whether you are traveling and need a healthy restaurant or just want to track your calories, here are two options:

• Hitting the road this summer? Let’s be realistic, it’s a challenge to eat healthy on the go. GoodFoodNearYou helps locate the healthiest food options at the most popular restaurants near you. The app sorts nearby options by the lowest calories, lowest carbs or lowest fat, empowering you to make fast, health decisions! And best of all, it’s free to download.
• We’ve all heard the solution: more calories out + less calories in = weight loss. Calorie Tracker by LIVESTRONG provides nutrition facts at the click of a button and tracks your calorie intake in a personalized nutritional diary. The app even offers customized goals, weight tracking and an exercise log – all for $2.99.

Take out your BlackBerry, and exercise more than just your thumbs!

Read more articles from our summer fitness series, which cover topics, such as kids & fitness, warm-up and cool-down ideas, workout suggestions, and hydration tips.

Each month as I pay my bills I look for ways to cut back.  I could put glow in the dark stickers everywhere and never have to turn a light on again.   That probably will never fly with the Mrs., however, there are many who are cutting costs during this recession by cancelling their cable.

The Internet has made it possible to make phone calls over the web through VoIP and people are loving this phenomenon.  A new trend wave has people watching TV over the Internet…for free.  That is right, no more cable television bill each month.

Most networks are now placing their line-ups on the company website.  I go to these sites all the time to catch up on shows that I have missed and forgot to DVR.  The quality is great, dependent on your computer setup.  There is really no difference except for the need to sit at the computer to watch shows isn’t quite family friendly.

The solution to that is linking the family room TV into the loop.  By assembling a cheap PC built specifically for the purpose of playing videos and using the television as the monitor, you are good to go.  Most of the people I have read about use wireless keyboards with a built-in mouse to navigate the web.  For style point, there are remotes that can be used for this purpose.  There are even application on the iPhone or iPod Touch to control your computer remotely.

Websites like www.hulu.com have television shows, movies, cartoons, etc. already cataloged.  All you have to do is search the website and click the link that will lead you to the show’s website and you can watch all day long.  Most shows still have commercials but only one instead of the usual 2 minute break.

You even can watch the movies you have backed-up from your DVD collection without getting off of the couch.  The only downfall I have discovered is the watching of sporting events.  Has anyone tried this idea out yet?  Thoughts?  How can I get sports and live television for free?

Last week, I wrote about Skype service.  I was looking for a way to talk to my wife from the other side of the world.  All my research pointed to Skype, or at least the hype.  I decided to try a Skype phone: the GE 28300EE2.

I wanted a way so that my wife did not have to sit at the computer to talk to me.  GE had a phone, which was a cordless handset.  She could walk anywhere that the DECT 6 technology would let her.  Besides, having a Skype application on my iPhone, further reinforced my decision to buy one.

First off, this phone was extremely simple to install.  It plugged right into a USB port and the installation CD did all the work.  I had an issue right off the bat with not being able to hear through the ear piece, but that was a quick fix.  A simple Google search for updated drivers solved the issue.

Then all that was left was to test the whole setup.  The Skype phone only needed to be connected to a computer and the Internet.  My iPhone requires a Wi-Fi connection.  The test call at home went perfectly and sounded as if we were on cell phones with a great connection.

Test two came at an international airport using their Wi-Fi feed.  Again, great success was the result.  The third and final test was here in the desert.  My connection to the Internet was great, however, there were scores of people eating up the bandwidth.  The connection was not so good.  It was like a being in an elevator or tunnel while talking on a cell phone.

I was convinced that the connectivity problem was strictly due to the moochers eating up all the Internet feed and decided to go back on another day.  The next time in the exact same spot with very few people there, I had another success.  Our connection was a little bit choppy every now and then.

After an hour long conversation, I was pleased with the performance.  I would recommend this product to others.

Skype, Skype, Skype.  How many times have we heard about this company in the past few months?  Oprah always talks about it (so I have been told), and everywhere the company’s name is surfacing.

I am a new user to this phenomenon and wanted to share my experiences.  Currently, I am typing from Qatar in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.  My wife and family are back in the USA.  Since I like them all, I began to explore options to speak with them before I left and kept landing on Skype.

It is an online chat program much like Yahoo and MSN Messenger.  There is even video chat.  Nothing too ground-breaking there, until you add in the ability to call people on the phone very cheaply.  In fact, Skype-to-Skype calls are free.

In the time it took me to load the program on my computer and create a profile, my coffee had not even finished brewing.  Now, how is the quality?  The area I was in had a very weak Wi-Fi connection, and I still was able to chat with no problems at all.  My video and audio were extremely choppy.

I was able to bring up video and type even though the audio was non-existent.  Feeling defeated, I was ready to hit delete until I was told otherwise.  Many others sharing the desert scenery with me say the program works great when in a good area.  It will be great to put it to the test but getting to that area will be a small challenge for me in the very near future.

Summary: Skype, so far, has not had a fair chance to live up to its hype.  In time, I have faith it will be a great program given a good connection.  It worked outstandingly for me at home during my test runs.  However, the true test is if I can still talk to others when I am this far away with minimal to no problems.

Does anybody have any tips or testimonies to vouch for Skype?  Any other programs out there that are even better?

Global positioning systems (GPS) are an important part of today’s society. Most drivers use GPS for navigating new routes for faster travel. There is no reason to get lost if a driver is using a GPS unit in his travels. A lot of people say that GPS units function the same way, but conducting a comparison on the popular GPS brands available will reveal otherwise.

Three of the most popular brands in automotive GPS include Garmin, Magellan, and Tom Tom. Beyond the brand, though, what really matters in a GPS unit is the navigation system of the GPS system, the quality of its maps, and how well it can provide the best routes that lets a driver get from Point A to Point B.

Garmin is notably a GPS manufacturer with the most number of units available in the market. To compare its performance with the other two brands, it is important to test some of their products within the same category. For this reason, the Garmin Nuvi series, Magellan Maestro series, and the Tom Tom ONE XL were tested against each other.

The most common complaint among GPS users is that their unit took them on a “crazy” route. Though the unit guided them accordingly, it was a route they never would have chosen for themselves. So, it is essential to consider the routing engine and the maps used in the system. The routing engine is the application that decides which route should be taken.

Meanwhile, there are two mapping data providers: the NavTeq and Tele Atlas. As of this writing, NavTeq has the better accuracy, and it is more complete. It is advisable to buy a GPS unit that uses this provider, especially if you are in North America. Both the Garmin and the Magellan uses NavTeq; however, there is more to routing than just the mapping data. The GPS’s decision about the best “route” also factors in the data points into the equation. In this regard, the Garmin Nuvi emerged as the best in its class.

This term blogger is used for a new generation of writers that are referred to as amateur journalists. The term blogging refers to web logs or online journals that bloggers use to share their opinions and personal stories with others. It can include anything from day to day living to politics to weird tech news and just about anything in between. Bloggers have been getting recognized more lately as they tend to go where journalists don’t always dare to venture. They often add their own personal feelings about heated or touchy topics to where journalism doesn’t easily allow this avenue into the freedom of speech theory. There is every kind of blogger from the ‘A’ list to left and right wing and even celebrity bloggers. Some of the better bloggers stay on top of their game and post everyday to their blogs. Others seem to fall off of the face of the Earth after posting for only a few months. Joining a blogging site has become a popular way of communicating with others while making a small amount of money by sharing idea’s with other writers. In many cases, published authors will join a blogging site and share inside knowledge of the literary world. For the beginning writer, its like a writers workshop, and by gaining inside tips it can help further many writers into becoming published novelists. There are many sites to join for a small monthly fee or you can start your own web page, also relatively cheap. Whatever your reason for wanting to write, whether it be for fun or to gain a substantial amount of money or even fame, blogging is a great forum for picking up different habits of writing techniques. It is one very definate way of being heard by a large audience with the luxury of getting feedback from readers. The hottest blogs right now cover politics, even the Presidents web site hosts a blog. The ultimate goal for a blogger is to become publishers of the internet by sharing news with others that are interested in reading it.