So much has been made of Amazon’s Kindle. The brand name has already become synonymous with the product, like Q-Tips, Kleenex, and iPod. And much of the hoopla is well deserved. The Kindle was a quantum leap forward in technology, accessibility, and user-friendliness.

But that was then; this is now. With the introduction of more and more Kindle clones on the market, is the Kindle worth the premium price?

Sometimes, the original really is better than those that follow. It’s tough to argue that any portable music device that has followed the iPod can match the original in feature and function. But sometimes, the clones are every bit as good as the first entrant into the market, or at least offer a better value. A $400 DVD player is better than the $30 variety at Wal-Mart, but is it THAT much better?

Kindle is faced with competition on a number of fronts. The Augen Book Reader, for example, offers all the functionality of the Kindle and then some. Augen has bundled together a book reader and an MP3 player with a 7″ screen and a SD card reader.

Then there is the $29.99 Nintendo DS 100 Classic Books cartridge. Assuming you’ve already dropped the $150 or so for a Nintendo DS, there’s no better bargain than this on the market. Your thirty bucks gives you the software to turn the DS into a book reader as well as 100 all-time classic books like Great Expectations and Little Women. Such classic characters as Sherlock Holmes and Frankenstein’s Monster are included.

In addition to the 100 books included on the cartridge, there are ten more books available for download. Although Nintendo has not unveiled any expansion plans, the small number of downloads relative to the number of books pre-installed leads me to believe that there will be many more on the way.

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…

Well, ladies and gentlemen, it’s official.  It has been known that Apple wouldn’t be including Flash on the iPad for a little while, but now we have a better knowledge of why…

In my opinion, the whole mess is a rather complicated ‘he said, she said” mess.  Is either company truly correct?  NO!  Both companies are doing the classic “blame someone else and cover my %@$!”  So, here is what I have collected on the situation.

Adobe’s Flash isn’t on the iPad because, Steve Jobs apparently told employees that Flash would soon be made obsolete by HTML5, and that it’s too buggy, obviating the need for it in the iPad.  He, at another point, stated that Flash is “buggy”.

In retaliation, Adobe released some information to Cult of Mac, the same site to whom Apple also releases a lot of their info.  “It’s pretty clear if you connect the dots: the issue is about revenue,” says Adrian Ludwig, an Adobe group product manager for Flash, during an interview with Cult of Mac.  He said that Flash isn’t buggy, crash-prone (another of Steve Jobs complaints), and doesn’t strain battery life.  There is no technical reason for Flash not to be on the iPad or iPhone, says Ludwig.  “We’ve been seeing great performance on similar devices,” he said. “The hardware is very capable.”

Now…if Flash was on the iPad, you could go on sites like Hulu for TV and game sites for games instead of buying them from iTunes, thus reducing Apple’s sales (on each of which, Apple makes a 30% profit).

“Apple has eliminated any way to get content on the device that they don’t own,” said Ludwig. “Apple is keeping the device closed to protect their revenue streams.  We’re not the only one, Flash is what people are focused on but it’s not just Flash that’s not working. They’ve blocked a whole lot more than that… It’s a universal restriction.  We’re trying to raise the issue.  We’re talking about long-term damage to the development environment. We’re just the poster child for this.”

So, is Flash buggy, or does it just reduce Apple’s 30% profit?

All through your life, you will be plagued with unwanted intruders in you room (e.g. younger siblings) or need to be two places at once.  So, I have compiled some of the coolest spy type gadgets in this articles.

1. Laser Trip Wire This gadget is, in my opinion, a basic.  It is like those seen in the movies and on Claymore Mines in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2. When someone walks through it, they set off an alarm loud enough to wake any sleeper.  Best of all, it is less than $30 in the U.S.
2. USB Tank Missile Launcher This would be fun for office wars and such.  It is a small tank with four foam missiles.  The tank is controlled from a computer via a USB attachment.  The missiles fire twelve feet, and the USB attachment has a range of twenty-five feet.  This device will bring nerd wars to a new level.
3. Rovio What if I told you that you could have your very only military recon robot?  Well, that’s what Rovio is.  According to the manufacturer, Rovio is a “the groundbreaking new Wi-Fi enabled mobile webcam that lets you view and interact with its environment through streaming video and audio, wherever you are!”  Use your PC, your iPhone, or your PS3 to control Rovio.  The robot even comes with a charging dock!
4. EyeClops Night Vision 2.0 Binoculars One of the other current military devices that would be cool to have is night vision.  Now you can buy these, too.  EyeClops Night Vision 2.0 Binoculars are the coolest civilian night vision devices.  With them you can see up to fifty feet in complete darkness.  They fit over your head and are just fun.  Imagine something like midnight airsoft sessions with them!
5. Assorted Spying Devices Now, these actually scare me a little.  You can buy spy cam pens, glasses, lighters, key fobs, and more.  Although this is cool, it is a little scary to think anyone could be watching me at anytime without me knowing.  Oh well, the government can do that anyway.

Well, that is my compilation of spy gadgets for civilians.  Have fun using some of them!

In my, opinion, many people buy iPods, not because of capabilities, but because of the name.  There are many equal, but under loved competitors.

Let’s talk about the biggest, but still relatively unknown competitor, Microsoft’s Zune.  The Zune is a digital audio player produced by Microsoft. The line also includes Zune software and the Zune Marketplace services sold by Microsoft, which provide online music, video, and podcast downloads.  The Zune 30, the first generation Zune music player, has a 30 GB hard drive, 3” screen, and simple directional pad for menu navigation.  The second generation set of Zunes includes the Zune 4, 8, 16, 80 and 120.  The Zune 4, 8 and 16 are smaller in size and hold 4, 8 and 16GB of flash memory, in the same order. The Zune 80 and 120 are replacements for the Zune 30, as they are thinner and lighter than the original.  The Zune HD was confirmed for release in fall 2009 by Microsoft.  This will be Microsoft’s version of the iPod touch.

One of the best features of the Zune is the Zune Marketplace.  The Zune Marketplace is an online music, video and podcast store , equivalent to iTunes.  Purchases are made through Microsoft Points, in which users prepay $5.00 for 400 points that can be applied to downloads at 79 points per song.  As an alternative to Microsoft Points, the Zune Pass is a subscription service that allows users to pay a flat monthly fee of $14.99 . Zune Pass subscribers can download unlimited music from the Zune Marketplace, but this music will be lost when the pass runs out.  However, you can keep ten songs a month.  You can sync this info wirelessly.  Unfortunately, you need Windows Vista or XP to use a Zune.

The Zune also can play music though an Xbox 360 and create play lists for gaming.   More features supposedly are coming to the Xbox.

So, what are you waiting for? Think outside the box!

Security Essentials, Microsoft’s free antivirus software, is getting out of the beta stage and will be released to the public in a few weeks. This is according to an email sent by Microsoft to the participants in the beta testing that started in June.

Microsoft Security Essentials is meant to offer users of licensed copies of Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Windows 7 basic protection against viruses, spyware, rootkits and Trojans. It will not have the encryption capabilities, password storage, firewall protection, parental controls, and backup services that can be found in most expensive security software, but its basic features  seem to be good enough for most computer users.

How good will Security Essentials be? The first thing that most of those who have participated in the beta testing have noticed is that Security Essentials is not a memory hog. Unlike most expensive and robust security software, this one is very light and you forget that it is even running. It uses just around 4MB of system memory even during scans. As to protection against malware and viruses, Security Essentials has the ability to scan archives like Zip and Rar files and just like most paid antivirus programs it can create a system restore point before deleting infected files. It scans all your drives including the removable ones on demand. It also offers real-time protection and alerts the user when a virus or malware is detected. It also automatically scans the files that you download and monitors file and program activity in your system. If a suspicious file is detected by the real-time protection, it will be reported to the user with suggestions on what to do with it. If the user takes no action Security Essentials will decide for itself what to do with the file in question after 10 minutes of detecting it.

The features that are mentioned above are good enough basic protection for the average computer user. Some people believe that if Microsoft Security Essentials delivers what it promises when it is finally released to the public, it may hurt big security software companies. But we cannot tell because security threats are becoming more and more sophisticated these days and people may feel that real protection can only come from security software giants.

There is a new music gadget out there.  Sony has unveiled The Rolly, a music player.  But, there’s something else…  It’s a robot, and it can dance!

The Rolly is made of a central cylinder with a thick rubber ring and a LED ring on each end. Attached to each end is a rounded cone.  The cones each end with a dome.  The dome is on a motorized hinge that moves them.  When open, they reveal the speakers.  The size is approximately 4-1/8″ x 2-9/16″ x 2-9/16″ and weighs approximately 11 ounces.

The Rolly can stream music from your PC directly to the Rolly for your listening enjoyment via Bluetooth.  It also can store up to 2 GB of music.  The Rolly can be programed from a PC for certain dance moves but also can analyze the song automatically and create motion based on the music.  You even can share motions over the Internet!  The LED lights will flash and glow to the beat.  It supports AAC6 and MP3 playback.

On the down side, the dancing moves the domes over the speakers, which tends to distort the music.  Also, the Rolly cannot play music while in its charging cradle.  It also lacks a headphone jack for private listening.  Almost all reviews put it as too pricey. One said, “If Sony could make this product half off I think more people would buy it.”

The Rolly is a fun little toy, great for offices, parties, etc.  If the price were reduced, I think it could be good enough to be worth buying.

As more and more people go “green” with their autos and start driving hybrids and electric vehicles, there will become a much higher demand for charging posts of some sort that will allow users to charge their auto batteries. More than likely gas stations will have to implement charging posts to complement those drivers who don’t use gas anymore.

The only problem is, how do you bill users when you have no way of tracking individual electric use?

The EBConnect Elektrobay built by Elektromotive  will do just that!

The EBConnect device software will monitor the power consumption of each user that plugs in and will exchange the data via GSM and the Internet to the required source. Users can pay several different ways: a “pay-as-you-go” gift card, which allows users to purchase Elektrobay keyfob credits, a credit or debit card like at traditional gas pumps, or all as one lump sum included in their household utility bill.

EBConnect unveiled the first prototypes at the Norwegian zero-emissions exhibition, the International Battery, Hybrid and Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle Symposium (EVS 24). The event is one of the single most popular attractions to display technology pertaining to hybrid or electric vehicles (if the event name didn’t already imply that).

The Elektrobay is already being used at over 140 charging areas in gas stations across the United Kingdom.

Although, technology is not always perfect, one can only wonder if the related customer service department will be helpful pertaining to “accidental” overcharges on said bill. Let’s hope this device IS as accurate as they say it is.

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?

By the time this article is published the open-Beta for Microsoft’s new OS Windows 7 will be over (January 24th). Sadly, for those of you who missed the chance to experiment completely free with the new OS still could have a chance to do so… the download will be offered via bit-torrent clients and websites. The only downside is that you are required to have a product key for installation, and they were given out free via Microsoft’s website during the open-Beta period.

Windows 7 is a huge improvement over Windows Vista and can be ported to Mac machines now! The new and improved task-bar beats any design out on the market today for modern operating systems; one quick look and you’ll see why. The Windows 7 OS is definitely something every computer enthusiast needs to experience. Some brand new features include Aero Shake, which will clean all the clutter off your desktop with a neat little screen shake, increased compatibility and performance for 64 bit hardware and software, and a very distinct and easy to use interface.

A slight warning, however, it is recommended that you install Windows 7 on a clean partition and still keep another main OS to use for emergencies. Windows 7 is still in Beta which means the OS is not completely stable. There have been numerous reports that point out playing MP3s in Windows Media Player through Windows 7 OS will corrupt the files. There is now a fix available for this problem, however.

Windows Vista did not catch on so well with most consumers due to some serious, and aggrevating, hardware and software issues. The biggest problems arose due to driver installation errors. Many drivers were incompatible with devices and hardware, and it took some time for Microsoft to release fixes and updates that corrected these problems. Microsoft promises that Windows 7 will be much more fulfilling than its predecessor, and for those who have tried out the Beta it’s quite obvious Microsoft has been working hard to enhance their new OS.

Hopefully by the actual product release date all bugs will be fixed and Windows 7 will be a successful launch as opposed to Vista’s poor launch.