Gadgets | Project Technology

Latest Cell Phone Technology Markets You

Advertisers have always wanted to know what it is that motivates you to buy. They also want to know what it is that you want, so that they can market it to you. In the past, marketers have had to create a campaign and then watch how well it does to determine if it was successful. Modern technology has made it possible for them to guess much less, and know much more. Where are they getting this information? That is right, from your very own smart phone. Cell phone companies are always looking for ways to increase their bottom line, and now, they are able to market all of your information from your phone to advertisers and other commercial interests.

Cell phone providers are able to track what you are doing through tabs that they keep on you called ‘cookies’. When you are online, your browser has the capacity to block this type of intrusion if you want, but cell phones do not. In addition to using the information that you upload and download through your phone, they also use the GPS locator feature. This can help them pin point what market you are located in. After they package your information, they sell it to high-paying advertisers. They call it ‘behavior ads’ and they state that they are much more effective then regular marketing techniques and are very lucrative.

It is possible to opt-out of these tracking programs, but it is very hard for the consumer to find out how to do it. Currently, there are not any laws that specifically forbid it, but everyone does have a right to their privacy, and for those who real value it, finding out how to opt out of them should be a high priority. Be cautious about what apps you install on your phone as well. You may not know who else is getting all of your personal information.

Filed Under: Gadgets, Technology Tagged With: Global Positioning System, Mobile network operator, Mobile phone

What is Your Favorite Reading Nook?

Image via Wikipedia

Many of us love to find a place and curl up with a good book. We can find a good nook and read for hours. Now Barnes and Noble has made it possible for us to curl up with their Nook, not a place but an ebook reader.

The idea of reading books on a computer has been around since computers have had screens. Early computers were impractical with large heavy monitors that hurt your eyes if you read for too long. Laptops eliminated the problem with the heavy computer, but book reading never took off as they were still difficult to read.

Now we have a new generation of light, portable computers made with reading in mind. The Nook is the Barnes and Noble entry into this new type of computer system. With a 7-inch screen it is small enough to be portable but large enough to actually read. The monochrome screen looks like real paper as you read it. It does not glare so it very readable. The color version explodes with color and books with color illustrations, graphics or photographs are vibrant and again look like a high quality printed page. You could keep a child entertained for hours with one of these.

Businesses are finding the Nook to be very helpful for finding technical books on almost any subject. Barnes and Noble has converted over two million titles to the Nook format. As you read, or look for a specific page, the touch screen acts moves from page to page. You can quickly move through any book to find exactly what you want, just like a computer. Now you have the best of both worlds at your finger tips. You can curl up with your Nook in your own private, safe nook and read for days with the extra long battery.

Filed Under: Gadgets Tagged With: Barnes & Noble, nook

Kindle Your Appetite for Reading

Amazon has announced that they are selling more electronic books for the popular Kindle than paperback books. In a brilliant move, Amazon released the Kindle app so it can be used on most of the smartphones as well as the iPad. This allows tens of millions of users access to the books that Amazon has placed into the Kindle electronic format. Amazon does not release actual numbers for sales of either the Kindle nor the number of books sold in either paperback or electronic formats, so there is no way of really knowing how many Kindle books were read on a smartphone, an iPad or a Kindle itself.

Amazon is fast approaching one million electronic books available for a reader to purchase, download and read. For the business user this is important as you can now get more and more books electronically and read them wherever and whenever you want. For the person on the go, a Kindle has an easy to read screen and is small and portable. The iPad can be used for other purposes so you do not have to carry two devices. The smartphone is smaller and even more easily portable, but not as easy to read.

Whichever method you use you can load up your electronic library and read as much as you want. Many public libraries now offer electronic books for checkout for a limited time. Long trips are easier with good books and voracious readers do not have to haul around a heavy stack of books. If you only have a few minutes to read while on a break or waiting for appointments, the electronic book is so easy to pull out and read on the spot.

Amazon is making our world greener by not having millions of books that have been read once and then thrown away. Pull out that Kindle book and relax into another great read…brought to you by Amazon.

Filed Under: Advancements, Gadgets Tagged With: Amazon Kindle, E-book

A Drumroll for TomTom with HD Traffic

The ability to get to your destination on time and without getting lost continues to improve. TomTom is selling HD Traffic-enabled devices in North America. These devices look at real-time traffic data and compare this with the historical driving patterns of that area to give you the fastest route.

If you are a busy sales representative, it is important to see prospective clients on time. Being stuck in traffic does not pay the bills. HD Traffic looks at available data, which includes other anonymous TomTom users, and plots the best course to your destination.

If there is a slowdown ahead, HD Traffic will reevaluate your route and redirect you. It is like having your own personal watcher in the sky, telling you how to navigate your way to your destination.

People will love the ability to get home quickly when the city traffic is gridlocked because of a series of accidents or a storm that has affected one part of the city more than another. With HD Traffic, it might take a detour to get to your destination, but you should be able to avoid trouble spots.

The newest TomToms come with live weather reports so you can know approximately when that hurricane or expected tornado is going to touch down. Weather changes over distances or even from one valley to another and TomTom can let you know what is there and how to avoid the problems that the weather is causing.

Fuel prices are now available. This is a popular feature for distance travelers who want to find the best prices but do not know the local area. You can also use Google local search to find restaurants, stores, hotels or other establishments to make your trip easier. TomTom with HD Traffic is doing its part to help you accomplish your goal: a quick and easy trip wherever you are headed.

Filed Under: Gadgets Tagged With: Global Positioning System, TomTom

Apple iPad–Good Looks for Good Business

After the Apple iPad had been on the market for over a year, it had penetrated the market so effectively that it seemed longer. This single product by Apple has captured the fancy of American business.

Photographers have found that having people view their photos on the large 9.7-inch high-resolution screen has increased their sales. Allowing the customer to hold the iPad in their hands and touch the screen to move to the next picture introduces a personal connection between the photos and the buyer. With a touch they accept potential pictures. It is this kinesthetic approach that has captured America.

Businessmen on planes are pulling out their iPads and completing letters, reading email, reviewing presentations and then with a flick of the finger they move to a game or a movie. They no longer have to carry around a bulky laptop.

Students are finding that the iPad is great for class. They can take notes and review them easily. The little computer is small enough to easily fit on college desks, but large enough to type with relative ease. Turn it sideways and it has a pretty good keyboard. Plus it is cool to impress their friends with the awesome graphics that Apple is famous for.

From the original Apple, Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak instilled the concept of design into computers. Before that first Apple all computers were ugly rectangle contraptions of efficiency rather than beauty. Every new Apple product has always had design as part of its foundation. You can even have it engraved for a touch of class, or design a case from various vendors.

The iPad looks spectacular as you hold it in your hands and the sharp graphics move under your finger. It is part of this aura that also captures business. Deals close because the buyer can see and interact with the proposal. To place your company’s success in your hands, use your iPad!

Filed Under: Gadgets Tagged With: Apple, IPad

Walk Lightly and Carry a Small Stick

Flash drives or thumb drives now have good memory capacity on them. You can now place an entire operating system (OS) on one, with data, and use it to go back and forth from work to home or other locations. Just plug your drive into your computer at home or work, turn on the system and it comes up to the portable OS. This is the ultimate portable computer. You don’t need to carry a laptop around as long as you have access to a computer in the location your plan to use your system.

The main problem with this type of drive is that it is often insecure. Anyone finding your thumb drive can see your personal or business data. To solve that, Lockheed Martin has just come out with their “PC on a Stick” which is made to function as described above, but with security. It even complies with the Telework Enhancement Act of 2010 which lays down security for portable devices.

Both business and the government need security on any portable devices. If the device is found by a competitor, their business and the security of the country can be negatively impacted. With the “PC on a Stick” they would have to circumvent the five layers of security including state of the art 256-bit encryption. To further protect your data, if the drive is lost or stolen your IT department can remotely shut down the drive and destroy the data, thus further safeguarding your information.

If you need to work from more than one location, the “PC on a Stick” could be a very convenient option for you. This drive is not as small as many other thumb drives but at only three inches long and three-fourths of an inch wide, it is still very portable and very easy to put into a pocket, briefcase, or purse.

Go light, carry a stick!

Filed Under: Gadgets Tagged With: Lockheed Martin, USB flash drive

Customizable High-Tech Gadets as Promotional Material

The savvy business person not only owns and utilizes a variety of business related gadgets to facilitate their job, but they also employ marketing strategies that involve giving unique and low cost gadgets away as end of the year, loyalty or appreciation gifts. The return on this kind of advertising is much more lucrative than some other traditional methods.

It is a proven fact giving useful promotional material has a direct benefit, and compared to traditional advertising it is very cost effective. Marketing companies excel at providing the latest and newest in promotional gadgets that are easily imprinted with the company or business name. These neat little gizmos make great appreciation gifts as well as great promotional material.

Every business person gets the usual stack of lifeless calendars at the end of each year. How boring and pedestrian. Set yourself outside the pack by providing a useful promotional piece, such as flash drives, multi-purpose tools, wall clocks, letter openers and even umbrellas. It may seem like these cost more, but compared to direct mail campaigns and other marketing strategies, the returns on promotional pieces is much higher.

Promotional gadgets are going high tech. No longer are imprinted pens the cool thing to give as loyalty rewards or promotional material. WiFi locaters, mouse pads with integrated USB ports, customized ear buds, chargers and more are the kinds of high tech gizmos being handed out. Just call any promotional marketing company and be prepared to be wowed at the number of customizable products available.

The economy is forcing many businesses to reevaluate their marketing and advertising strategies. Consider forgoing the traditional avenues of direct mail and yellow page ads for leading edge promotional gadgets. Potential customers are much more likely to remember the company who gave them a useful tool rather than just another pen or useless calendar.

Filed Under: Gadgets Tagged With: Business, Marketing

3 Important Accessories for Mobile Phones

No longer a simple device with which to make phone calls, today’s mobile phone is like a mobile office. This complicated communication device is more science fiction than ever, and can carry out a multitude of tasks that make it an imperative device for business people or just about anybody on the go. There are three accessories that every cell phone owner should invest in not only to protect it but also to get the most possible use from it.

Screen covers are a necessity for mobile phones. Not only do they protect the screen of what are often expensive devices, but they can also ensure a long working life of the product. With many mobile phones having touch screens, the build of up of dust, oil residues and other impurities can cause the integrity of the screen to weaken thus reducing the sensitivity of the touch process. A screen cover not only protects the integrity of the touch function, but protects from scratches and other accidents.

Car chargers are in integral part of any mobile phone package. There is nothing worse than being between meetings and having your phone die. Having a handy car charger can power up your phone between locations and by the time you get to your destination your phone can be charged and ready to go.

The final most important accessory for any mobile phone is a mobile cover. These full body phone covers protect all areas of your phone from not only normal wear and tear but accidental damage as well. These covers are a wise investment if you plan on reselling your phone when upgrading, as it will keep your mobile phone in a like-new condition.

When investing in a mobile phone, take the extra step to ensure that you have these three important accessories. They’ll not only protect your phone but will also ensure a long working life.

Filed Under: Gadgets Tagged With: Mobile phone, Wireless

Solar Cell Phone Chargers

Solar cell phone chargers are becoming all the rage in a world of busy business travelers. There are few things more practical than a cell phone charger that recharges from the power of the sun. Say goodbye to strange converters and bizarre plugs needed in other countries, and say hello to one handy device. Earth friendly, this device makes a great tool for the business person who has everything.

The primary advantage to having a solar cell phone charger is that this small and easily portable device can be used wherever there is sunlight. This eliminates the need to carry converters and electrical current adapters when travelling abroad. One nice feature of many solar chargers is that they come with a battery pack so that even if it is night or there is low sunlight you can still charge your phone from the backup battery and the next time there is sunlight the device will recharge your phone and its internal battery.

Another advantage is that the solar phone chargers often come with attachments to charge other devices such as iPods, laptops and mp3 players. Charging time can vary from device to device, and not all solar chargers are compatible with all devices. Make sure to thoroughly investigate the product before purchasing if you want to use it for more than powering your cell phone.

One of the disadvantages to the solar charger is that it can take up to nine hours to fully charge a cell phone battery. If you plan on using your phone during daylight hours this could be an issue.

Solar cell phone chargers are a wonderful gadget for somebody who is concerned about our dependence on electricity and the earth’s resources. Small and compact, this is an easy to take along tool works well as long as you understand the limits of its capabilities.

Filed Under: Gadgets Tagged With: iPod, Mobile phone

Choosing a PDA for WiFi

PDA’s, or personal digital assistants, are currently all the rage for most business men and women. These handy little gadgets can help make the workload you are carrying a little lighter, by helping you keep track of dates for important meetings. They offer a wide variety of functions, including the ability to connect with WiFi, which means that you can easily and quickly have access to the Internet.

Most customers prefer a small, slim type of personal digital assistant for convenience. Even the slimmest styles normally have screens that are large enough to be able to use comfortably. Most customers like their PDA to be small enough to carry easily. Before purchasing, make sure the screen is to your liking and that the size is comfortable for you.

Another “must check” before buying, is what type of battery the PDA comes with. Using WiFi tends to make batteries go dead quickly, so it is important to make sure you have a good, long lasting battery for your PDA.You will more then likely be using your PDA for other jobs as well, such as listening to music or watching short videos. A battery that loses power quickly can complicate business matters, so make sure you have a good, dependable battery and a charger to go with it. Better yet, have an extra battery, making sure that one is always fully charged. Most PDA batteries last for about three days if they are not used constantly. If you will be using your PDA for long periods at a time, you can expect the battery to begin to lose power after approximately six or seven hours.

The Memory and the operating systems of the PDA should also be checked out before a final purchase is made. Some of the better operating systems offer an above average style of battery and are more efficient when it comes to being able to use the latest software.

Filed Under: Gadgets Tagged With: Wi-Fi