What's New in Cordless Mice?

Not counting BlackBerries, many mobile legal professionals are toting a notebook as their primary computer. In doing so, it's sometimes easy to overlook some of the essentials, such as a good travel mouse. Touchpads and eraser-head "pointing sticks" have their place, but there are still definite productivity and ergonomic advantages to be gained with a well-designed cordless travel mouse, especially if you do any work with images and presentations.

I was recently in the market for a new notebook mouse, and definitely wanted to avoid anything with cables. I haven't done a gadget review in a while, so I had some fun with this one. With the holidays upon us, a good cordless mouse could make a nice road warrior present, and they're fairly affordable.

Logitech and Microsoft still dominate the field, but there are other options as well, including several unconventional yet innovative designs. Finding a small travel mouse isn't a problem these days, but the trick is to find one that's fairly comfortable, flexible, and usable with a minimum of travel fuss. Here's my take on current offerings, including what's particularly naughty or nice in each mouse's overall design and function. Please note all prices listed are MSRP, and you may find a particular mouse at lower prices online and during holiday sales:

Microsoft's Dangley Dongles
Price Range: $29.95 to $99.95 MSRP

I've long been a fan of various Microsoft desktop mice, as they have been very comfortable and durable performers. However, I just haven't been as impressed by a number of their cordless notebook mice due to their USB dongles. While generally sturdy and compact mice, many of their models' USB transceivers are absolutely HUGE by today's standards -- they stick out more than some thumb drives. Breakage is a real concern on the road, which likely increases the longer the dongle sticks out from your laptop. As Logitech has proven below, smaller is better and it's doable. Microsoft needs to go back to the drawing board and redesign their USB dongles. With that caveat, two of Microsoft's higher-end mice offer additional features for the mobile road warrior:

Wireless Notebook Presenter Mouse 8000
Price: $79.95 MSRP

Perhaps most notable is the new Microsoft Wireless Notebook Presenter Mouse 8000. On the top it's a nicely designed travel mouse, with a laser pointer embedded in the front end. On the bottom there are a number of buttons for controlling PowerPoint presentations or your media player. I like that it has a tilt-wheel for horizontal scrolling and side function buttons. All in all, it's a unique and useful combination. Its $79.95 retail price is on the high side for a notebook mouse, but keep in mind it could save you the cost and space of bringing a separate presentation mouse.

As for the ergonomics and tactile feel, I didn't like the skinny scroll wheel's feel under my finger. First, it lacks the intermittent scroll "clicks" which usually aid in controlling scroll movement and help prevent "overshooting" your mark. I also didn't like the tactile feel of the milky-white material used in Microsoft's tiny scroll wheels, nor the hard plastic ridge surrounding the center scroll wheel. It just wasn't as comfortable as it looked, as that ridge kept spreading my fingers apart and felt annoying.

The Presenter Mouse 8000 is also a Bluetooth (BT) mouse, which is an advantage if your laptop has built-in Bluetooth; otherwise you'll need to use the separate USB Bluetooth receiver. Keep in mind that BT generally only has a 30-foot range, which may not be sufficient for some presentation locales -- especially in a mouse developed specifically for this purpose. As my laptop doesn't have built-in BT (only about half do currently), and after reading a good amount of online criticism against BT mice performance lags in general (not specific to the 8000), I decided to keep looking. But if you're looking for the most features in one compact device, it should be on your list -- especially if your laptop has built-in Bluetooth.

Mobile Memory Mouse 8000
Price: $99.95 MSRP

Another good but very pricey mouse is the Microsoft Mobile Memory Mouse 8000. At first glance, it's unconventionally round and squat for a mouse, but don't judge it by its looks. The Mobile Memory Mouse 8000 felt extremely comfortable the moment I put my hand to it and started moving it around -- the ergonomics are surprisingly excellent. It features two programmable side buttons, often used for browsing forwards and backwards in web pages, and they're located in just the right place -- where your thumb can easily press them without ungainly stretching exercises. It also features a battery indicator light and a fully functional scroll wheel. Again, this is just my preference, but it lacks the scroll "clicks" and is somewhat narrow for a scroll wheel. With that said, the smooth top surface of the Mobile Memory Mouse 8000's buttons is a huge improvement ergonomically compared to the Wireless Notebook Presenter Mouse 8000 above -- as there is no hard plastic ridge pushing against your fingers on the Memory Mouse.

The reason it's named the "Memory Mouse" is that it comes with a 1GB flash memory thumb drive that doubles as the 2.4 GHz radio transceiver. While a nice bonus, 1GB is now at the shallow end of the thumb drive pool, and again, it makes for a noticeably larger USB dongle. While a wonderfully comfortable mouse, Microsoft introduced a puzzling paradox in the "wireless" department. You see, the Memory Mouse 8000 is a rechargeable mouse, which means you need to take its charging cable along or risk it ending up as road warrior road-kill. Thus I greatly prefer replaceable batteries in mobile mice. The good news here is the recharging cable's magnetic connector, à la the Apple MacBook Pro. So if it's accidentally caught or yanked, it'll just pop off the end of its USB dongle. But why? As a wireless mouse should in fact be wire-less, it rather defeats the purpose. All these extras also make this mouse very expensive at $99.95, so while I loved its overall feel, I simply felt there were better and more affordable travel mice available for notebook users.

Mogo Mojo?
Price: $69.99 MSRP

In the "Think outside the box, store it inside the box" category, I was intrigued by the radically different Mogo Mouse. It's extremely thin and shaped to fit inside a notebook's PC Card slot. This saves space, ensures it's always with your laptop, and recharges the Mogo mouse while it's in the slot (only ~40 mins. full recharge time). It features a plastic kick-stand that flips down for use. This elevates the back of the mouse to provide a more suitable angle for your hand. There are two versions of the Mogo mouse -- one for PC Card slots, and another for the differently-shaped Express Card slots found on some newer laptops. It's another Bluetooth mouse, so again you're in luck if your laptop has built-in Bluetooth. If not, you'll need a dongle.

Which brings up several of its disadvantages and compromises: The current PC Card model is only a basic two-button mouse, with no scroll wheel or other buttons. However, Mogo now offers scrolling software which adds a scroll function by using button and movement combinations. However, it appears this is actually very old abandoned software initially posted by a Mogo user. It's also only a 500 DPI mouse, which places it at the mid-to-low range of current mouse resolution offerings. This means you'd likely have to move the mouse further to move it smoothly across wider and higher resolution laptop panels. It's usually possible to increase the mouse speed and/or acceleration settings to compensate, but many times that also increases screen "jumpiness" in use. It's also not as suitable for fine detail work, such as working with images.

I'd need a BT dongle, and due to the Mogo's slimness, you can't store the receiver inside the mouse itself. In addition, I was concerned with the durability of the plastic kick-stand. While it's an innovative storage and charging design, overall the Mogo came across as a bit too gimmicky for my needs. With the slot type dependency, there's a chance you'll need to buy the other form factor if you get a new laptop with a different card slot, but that would be down the road. In contrast, external cordless USB mice would be more freely transferable to newer laptops.

At least Mogo is planning to provide arguably the world's smallest Bluetooth adapter in the Mogo Dapter. It's a tiny, rounded, and speedy Bluetooth 2.0 and USB 2.0 adapter you can leave plugged into your notebook. Announced earlier this year, it doesn't appear available yet. When I started writing this review, the Mogo web site stated it would be available "Fall 2007". Apparently, it's now pushed back to "January 2008". As it was initially slated for release within Q2 2007, it should be very useful whenever it gets released, supposedly for a $49.99 MSRP. Let's hope with all these delays it's not just another vaporware product.

Honey, I Shrunk the USB Dongle!
Price: $69.99 MSRP

Brand new is the Logitech VX Nano, so named for its smaller size and tiny USB receiver. I really, really wanted to like the new Logitech VX Nano. It has the world's smallest USB receiver, which is so incredibly tiny you can just leave it in your notebook's USB slot and forget about it.

Logitech has raised the bar significantly on this feature alone, and it's likely only a matter of time before other manufacturers follow its lead. The Nano also stores the receiver inside the battery door on the bottom of the mouse. Unlike last year's VX Revolution, storing the wireless receiver does not turn off the VX Nano, so you'll need to use the power button on the bottom of the mouse. Ejecting the USB receiver also requires you to first remove the battery door. I'd expect most people will simply leave it in their notebook's USB port assuming they have one open.

The VX Nano mouse is noticeably smaller than last year's VX Revolution, both in thickness and length. It's compact design means it takes up less space in a crowded bag, and it has the cool Logitech free-spinning scroll wheel for hyper-fast scrolling through long documents, spreadsheets, and web pages. No longer do you have to flick a switch under the mouse to change scroll modes from the clickety-kind to the free spin as was needed for the VX Revolution. Simply push down on the scroll wheel to toggle the spin mode -- great for changing on the fly. It takes two AAA batteries and battery life is estimated at six months with occasional use. Heavier users can naturally expect less, but this is a long time for a cordless mouse.

Unfortunately, Logitech had to make a number of compromises to fit all this goodness into such a small space: Gone is the beautifully curved and ultra-comfortable right-handed ergonomic contour from the prior Logitech VX Revolution notebook mouse. Also gone is the VX Revolution's programmable zoom button. While the new ambidextrous design is certainly better for lefties, the VX Nano is not as ergonomic since it requires a claw-like grip. That's fine for short usage, but it's not as appealing for longer stretches.

It's so slim height-wise that Logitech moved the forward/back buttons away from the thumb rest and placed them on the extreme upper left corner by the left mouse button. That made them difficult to reach, requiring a very unergonomic finger "stretch maneuver". These two buttons are made from a rubbery material instead of hard plastic (as on the Revolution mouse), so you don't get as much of a tactile response. The nice 4-stage battery meter of the Revolution was replaced by a single LED on the Nano. Last but not least, the smaller redesigned scroll wheel has a looser, sloppier feel compared to the Revolution's larger wheel -- particularly when pushing it left and right for horizontal scrolling. However, I liked the smaller wheel's size itself, which was more appropriate for a compact travel mouse.

All in all, I could probably live with these drawbacks due to its more compact size and wonderfully tiny receiver, but the real deal-breaker for me was that the VX Nano's scroll wheel cannot function as a middle mouse button. Clicking down on the wheel only changes the wheel's mechanical spinning mode. I caught myself automatically clicking the wheel out of habit. Since I'm a multi-tasking power user, particularly with tabbed web browsers, losing the the middle click button was a tougher item to ignore. The ability to use it to open and close web links in a new tab is a key productivity feature that I just wasn't willing to sacrifice -- especially as I use the middle click button far more often than the free-spinning scroll feature. FYI, the bundled SetPoint software can be used to reassign one of the other buttons (e.g., the search button) to become the middle click button -- a change that will take some time getting used to.

Overall, it's a good travel mouse with some extra features and buttons, a travel pouch, and the tiniest USB receiver to date, so it's very worthy of consideration. It's certainly one of the better cordless mice in its size class and has a nice "executive" look, but I recommend you try it out in the store before you buy.

A Fast Fish with a Twist
Price: $39.99 MSRP

An interesting contender presented itself from a very unlikely brand -- the RocketFish Twister Wireless Laser Mouse. RocketFish is Best Buy's house brand, and the Twister Mouse is extremely compact yet quite usable. The built-in twist is simply brilliant. The mouse stores flat, and I do mean flat, in an included travel pouch. Give it a quick twist, and it adds the necessary curve for use. For an animated demonstration of the "twist", view the 360º image.

To keep its low profile, it substitutes a flat scroll touchpad where the scroll wheel would be, and underneath that is a clickable middle mouse button. Other features include a diminutive USB receiver dongle that stores right in the mouse. I prefer mice such as this that not only store the receiver inside, but which automatically turn the mouse on/off when ejecting or reinserting it back in the mouse to save battery power. The Twister mouse includes an extra button on the left side, nice for clicking "back" when web browsing, and bundled software for reassigning button functions and adjusting mouse performance.

The Twister Mouse's flatter design is perfect for extremely crowded laptop bags and it easily fits in nearly any pocket. I discovered another great use as a wireless presentation mouse -- the mouse buttons are the perfect size, but just don't touch the middle scroll pad unless you want your slides to advance very quickly. Its wireless range could be a bit better, as I only got roughly 20-30 feet away on fresh batteries before responsiveness dropped off. So it's best suited for small to mid-sized presentation rooms, or where you won't be moving far from your notebook. Note that the mouse buttons operate in either twist mode, so you can use it to present in your hand with it flipped flat as desired. Another tip: Change PowerPoint's setting to uncheck "Show menu on right mouse click." This allows you to use the second mouse button to go back a slide without popping up PowerPoint's annoying navigation menu.

Now for the reality check: It took time before the Twister's unconventional shape felt more natural in use. It's boxy, but usable. The middle scroll touchpad is innovative, but requires a heavier touch for the desired responsiveness. It's a shame its touchpad sensitivity is not currently adjustable in the bundled software, which would help make it feel more fluid and require less effort. The left and right mouse buttons are fairly quiet and have a very short click depth. This makes them quicker to click, but it's an acquired taste. The red side button is also too slim and recessed for easy clicking. I had to consciously apply more pressure to make it click. However, since many notebook mice don't even have an extra button, this was at least a thoughtful and somewhat useful addition.

The Twister Mouse features a "Connect" button on its bottom should its USB receiver not automatically recognize it. This occurred on occasion: several times upon insertion of the USB receiver into the laptop (easily cured with the "Connect" button), and once after the mouse was left inactive for 30+ minutes. Unfortunately, the "Connect" button did not solve the latter problem, but removing and reinserting the USB receiver did the trick. So it wasn't a seamless connection throughout, which could cause problems before a big presentation and/or potentially frustrate a new cordless mouse user.

Battery-wise, it takes two AAA's and both the USB receiver and the mouse will light up in various colors indicating relative battery strength. I prefer a multi-segment meter, or at least a percentage indicator in the included mouse software, but it's better than nothing to avoid a dead rodent. Bringing or buying spare AAA batteries on the go is easy enough, and for that reason I prefer replaceable batteries over internal rechargeables for notebook mice.

Compared to Logitech's and Microsoft's offerings, the Twister Mouse doesn't compete in refinements, but it's more reasonably priced, functional, extremely compact, and is still somewhat comfortable in use despite its small and boxy size. If you're looking for a tiny mouse to use on an airline tray and have a cramped laptop bag, consider the Twister Mouse or the Logitech VX Nano above.

[Update: It is currently unknown whether Best Buy is continuing to sell this mouse. As of this date, the RocketFish site features a broken link to Best Buy's site, and the latter doesn't return any results for this mouse. It may still be available in some Best Buy stores.]

Viva La Revolution!
Price: $79.99 MSRP

When it came down to it, my favorite cordless notebook mouse is the Logitech VX Revolution. It's not the smallest, but if you're looking for a single cordless laser mouse to use while traveling and also as a desktop mouse, this is the one. It's elegant, extremely comfortable, and incredibly versatile. If you do a Google search for VX Revolution review, you'll find many highly positive reviews. Logitech did a superb job in designing this mouse.

I had become so accustomed to using a touchpad that I'd almost forgotten some of the benefits of a great cordless mouse:

• The Revolution is so-named for its innovative dual-mode scroll wheel. Flicking a little switch on the bottom changes its function from the clickety-kind to a nearly frictionless free scrolling wheel -- perfect for long documents, web pages, and even longer spreadsheets.
• Its long radio range is phenomenal, and its 2.4 GHz frequency worked beautifully along with all of my Wi-Fi devices -- no interference either way.
• I also like the deep comfortable thumb rest and the proper location of the forward/back buttons just above it, so they're very easy to reach. It has just the right tactile feedback as well, giving it a very polished and refined feel. However, it's not ergonomic for the left-handed, who will likely want an ambidextrous design.

What's extremely rare for a notebook mouse is that the VX Revolution has a whopping 7 physical buttons. Considering that the scroll wheel and zoom buttons have multiple positions, it's more like a 10-button mouse. The well-designed Logitech SetPoint software makes each button very customizable. For example, you can assign unique button functions for different programs, and one of the options is a "document flip" which supports Vista's new 3D window flip feature. While not as tiny as the VX Nano's USB receiver, I rather like that the VX Revolution's receiver is fairly small (about half the size of most Microsoft USB receivers), and it slides into the mouse for easy storage. Popping out the receiver automatically turns on the mouse, while reinserting it powers it off -- so you won't accidentally have a dead mouse in your bag. The single AA battery is also cheap and easy to replace on the go. Battery life is slated at four months, but will naturally vary with usage.

I'd say the VX Revolution only has two drawbacks: First, it's a slightly larger and thicker notebook mouse, due to the higher but extremely comfortable ergonomic palm curve. The other is you'll have to flip the mouse over during use to flick the microgear switch to change its mechanical scroll wheel modes. However, as the VX Nano above demonstrates, smaller isn't always better, and I'll gladly make a little extra room in my laptop bag for the VX Revolution. It doesn't come with a travel pouch, so a quick trip to my local Best Buy matched me up with a nice Lowepro Ridge 30 case that fits it perfectly and is lined in soft brushed-tricot to prevent scratches.

As the Logitech VX Nano is the newest model, the VX Revolution's price has begun to drop. I've also recently seen a number of rebates at online stores if you're so inclined. The rebates may signal a phase-out in favor of the newer, smaller Nano. So if you if want a Revolution, you might want to give it a spin before they're gone.

Addressing Laptop Data Vulnerabilities

Law.com has an excellent article discussing several workable approaches for securing data on corporate laptops. A quick look at one list of data breaches illustrates how sensitive data continues to be compromised by unsecured storage on laptops.

It's a particularly savvy article because its first piece of advice is not to overreact and go overboard -- "Draconian laptop-use policies may, ironically, increase an enterprise's vulnerability." Consider that employees often respond by finding other ways of circumventing security to make their jobs easier, which usually means making the data more accessible (i.e., less secure). For instance, blocking file saves to the laptop's hard drive or limiting e-mail inbox sizes can result in employees saving the data to unsecured thumb drives or forwarding sensitive e-mail to personal e-mail accounts. Where there's a will, there's a way. EMC was quoted as opting for a more blended approach, depending on the sensitivity of the data.

Another interesting suggestion was full hard drive encryption, rather than just encrypting the documents folder. This is often a highly debated solution. In my experience, some IT professionals will quickly suggest that doing so will entail a performance hit on the user and cause additional support problems. I'd say that noticeable performance hits are more likely with older, slower laptops. If this presents serious problems, consider phasing in encryption or issuing new laptops to those accessing more sensitive data.

Also keep in mind that when you are working on a laptop, it is likely creating a number of temporary file copies on the hard drive, sometimes in places outside the document folders. Full drive encryption therefore provides more complete protection for these additional copies of sensitive data. Naturally, such a solution would need to be thoroughly tested to determine the real-world impact on users and the IT support organization. Another issue to consider is segregation of the master keys -- do you allow one person or group to have them, or do you segregate them between two entities within the organization to avoid unilateral and potentially undesirable actions? I liked the allusion to the missile silo two-operator requirement.

Removable storage continues to be a major concern, such as flash thumb drives and external hard drives. And let's not forget iPods, which are either the former or latter type of devices. On one hand, these drives are very useful tools for mobile users. When unsecured (e.g., unencrypted), they can represent a larger security threat due to their tiny physical size and increasing storage capacities. For example, an 8GB thumb drive goes for less than $100 and can store a staggering amount of information. The article mentions products that control which devices can be plugged into which computers, and the best ones allow exceptions to be set when needed. If thumb drives will be used and supported, I'd suggest issuing employees with the following: only those models which support high-end encryption, such as AES, and make its entire capacity encrypted before it's issued to the employee. While a savvy user will likely know how to reformat the thumb drive to make it unprotected, the default encryption status is in your favor for the majority of users.

Many new laptops have built-in fingerprint readers, which can make security a bit more convenient. But as the article states, users often forget a key step: Register more than one finger with the device, so if you cut or burn your primary finger, you can use another one to gain access via the reader. Also, without the back-end drive encryption, keep in mind that a fingerprint reader only locks the front door. There are other ways to get to the unencrypted data on the hard drive, such as removing it from the laptop and accessing it from another PC.

Lastly, the article mentions lojack services for laptops, which hopefully reduce their recovery time. However, once the horse is out of the barn, it's too late to employ any of the above security measures. An unprotected hard drive containing sensitive data can be copied very quickly to a number of storage devices. The data contained on missing laptops is often much more valuable and/or costly to an organization than the cost of the physical laptop itself. An ounce of prevention...

Speech Recognition Comeback Via Cell Phones?

Speech recognition has been around for a long time, but hasn't enjoyed much traction. Products like Dragon Naturally Speaking were useful if one was prepared to spend the requisite time training and correcting it. Another problem was transferring around the large speech files between computers as it was speaker-dependent.

New services are popping out of the Web 2.0 world, making it much easier for people to use their phones to communicate with others in a variety of ways. You could probably call some of these services "Phone 2.0".

For instance, Jott provides a service whereby you can leave a short voice message and have it sent to others (or yourself) as text messages or e-mails. Or, it can send along the voice message. Jott uses a combination of speech recognition technology and human transcribers to convert your voice messages into text.

Of course, this may raise privacy and confidentiality concerns for some. For Jott to work, you need to add the recipients' contact information into Jott's site so it can send your messages to them. Jott is perfect for those times when you need to tell several people, "I'm running late," or "The meeting was changed to ten." Since you can set up groups, it beats having to call each person individually or have one tell all the rest.

While Jott says they "hide personal info from the people doing transcription", there's at least a temporary record being made, so it's best to be prudent with messages going through an intermediary. Also, the one-year-old Jott doesn't seem to have much of a business model yet, so what's going to happen to all of that personal and contact information we enter? Jott does have a posted privacy policy, but doubts may linger.

For more, see "Jott Networks Bridges Voice, Text Worlds" at Law.com.

As the article mentions, Microsoft recently completed the acquisition of one of my favorite phone services, Tellme Networks. Simply call 1-800-555-TELL (8355), and speak keywords like "weather", "traffic", or even "blackjack" to play a game with a very convincing and humorous Sean Connery impersonation. Additional voice prompts are given and it recognizes your vocal responses. Granted, sometimes I've had to repeat myself, particularly in noisy locations, but it works and it's free.

Cell phones are also becoming a focal point for other technologies. Location-based services such as GPS-like navigation and social networking "friend locators" are catching on. So expect to see even further convergence of messaging and location-based services from cellular and third-party providers. In other words, watch for even more services to connect the Jotts.

New Yahoo! Widgets 4 Upgrades XP & 2000 Desktops

From Wired's Monkey Bites: If you're feeling a bit left out that you're still running Windows 2000 or XP at home, don't worry. Yahoo! just released their new desktop Widgets 4 software to add Vista-like gadgets and sidebars. Want a preview? If you prefer the stability and compatibility of XP, but crave some of the desktop coolness of Vista, this could be the interim cure.

Is Palm Getting Palmed Off?

Treo owners take note: Palm is contending with rumors of a buyer for their aging platform. This is nothing new, yet this time around, the latest round of rumors have an unusual amount of detail per News.com -- "It's crunch time for Palm".

Critics are quick to cite that the Palm OS has not been updated in years, still mired in Palm OS 5 (n/k/a Garnet OS). Palm recently retired the LifeDrive, their foray into the hard-drive based media player/organizer market, and seem to be relying on the Treo as their cash cow. To be fair, Palm has been incorporating the Windows Mobile OS in newer Treo devices. But how far can it carry them? The Treo product itself is relatively old, and the design has not changed substantially since September 2003 with the Treo 600, per Gartner.

"...that's a bad thing in a fast-moving industry like this where we've moved to thinner and cheaper devices. The Treo is looking fat, heavy and expensive." -- Todd Kort, Gartner analyst

To get a good view of where the smartphone market is headed, one just needs to glance at the svelte Motorola Q Phone, the Samsung Blackjack, and of course, the eye-popping Apple iPhone. The iPhone is even equipped with a rotation sensor to automatically switch its display from portrait to landscape, and a proximity sensor to turn off the display and disable accidental screen touches when it's next to your ear. Nice touches.

While the Treo is a fine device and still useful, it needs to overcome a strong "last year's model" showing. Perhaps getting bought up wouldn't be such a bad thing, if it will infuse more resources into updating the platform.

"Palm OS" is No More...

...now that Access (the real owner of Palm OS for some time) has renamed the Palm OS to "Garnet OS" -- thus removing Palm altogether from its name. Engadget has the details and writes, "Treo users die a little more inside."

Palm pretty much started out as a one-product company. With the impending retirement of the LifeDrive, and Symbol Technologies dropping the Palm OS (excuse me, "Garnet OS") from its line, Palm looks like it's headed back to its roots with the Treo being the only compelling product left.

While there's riches in niches, Palm is going to have increasing competition in that space, with the Q phone and Blackjack already making inroads and the Apple iPhone poised to be the latest threat, not to mention being some serious eye candy.

Beware Free Wi-Fi Scam In Airports

Everyone loves free Wi-Fi while traveling, right? Check out this Computerworld article on fake Wi-Fi hotspots at major airports that really put you and your company at serious risk.

Fake Wi-Fi hotspots and "man in the middle" attacks are nothing new. The key is that they are actually peer-to-peer or "ad hoc" wireless network connections -- meaning that your laptop connects directly to someone else's PC, not a wireless access point. That's a major security no-no, as they can sniff your logins, passwords, and other confidential data you send through. They can also deposit some nasty items on your PC behind the scenes. Guess what happens when you connect to your company's or firm's network when you get back to the office?

What's nice about this article is that it also tells you how to set your wireless networking settings in both Windows XP and Vista to prevent your PC from making any ad hoc wireless connections. Note this won't stop your laptop from finding and connecting to a bogus wireless access point set up nearby for nefarious purposes. It's just one more layer of security, and every little bit helps.

Think Twice Before Upgrading Your Wi-Fi Router

Law.com has a quick and helpful piece on why you shouldn't upgrade to a Pre-N Wi-Fi router -- at least not until the new "n" standard, 802.11n, has been ratified. If you're using your home Wi-Fi network mainly for surfing the web, then your broadband ISP provider is most likely the limiting factor, not your existing router, especially if it's a "g" router (802.11g).

For much less than the unratified "Pre-N" or "Draft-N" routers, you can buy 802.11g routers that have been enhanced with so-called MIMO technology -- which use an array of antennas for Multiple-Input, Multiple-Output transmissions, extending range and speed." The challenge with these pre-releases of "n" routers is how well they'll conform to the final specs and work with various other Wi-Fi equipment from different vendors. My guess is that the closer we get to the final "n" standard, newer routers produced along the way will generally fare better in compatibility -- but -- nothing is for certain until the standard is ratified.

Supposedly, routers using the forthcoming 802.11n standard will be backward-compatible with the previous 802.11a/b/g devices, working at those older devices' fastest speeds. "N" achieves speeds far above "a", "b", and "g" through three methods: It’s more efficient, it has more radios, and it can use more spectrum. It's widely been discussed that "n" wireless routers will have more range and speeds in the hundreds of Mbps.

For now, the enhanced "g" MIMO (Multiple-input-multiple-output) technology looks to be the most cost-effective. MIMO's benefits boost performance and range, while still handling existing 802.11a/b/g radios. Now, if you're regularly pushing very large files and print jobs through your home wireless network and it's taking its toll on your patience or productivity, then the "Pre-N" performance gains are worth a look. It should also be mentioned that as long as the "Pre-N" router hardware is fully compatible with the final "n" standard (buyer beware), it's probably a good bet that "Pre-N" router vendors will make software upgrades available -- allowing users to update the router's firmware to be fully "n" compliant. If you're squeamish about flashing firmware or reconfiguring your router, then I wouldn't recommend "Pre-N" routers. Overall, I think most people will continue to do well with their existing home "g" router until the final "n" standard routers hit the market, with prices falling as volume increases.

Charge2Go Emergency Cell Phone Charger Review

Even though battery technology has improved, cell phones still tend to average a few hours of talk time. They drain even faster when using the backlight or all the extras: Bluetooth, camera, music/video player, games, web browser, e-mail, text/photo/video messaging, and GPS navigation.

So sooner or later it happens -- you're out and about and you get the dreaded "low battery" warning. Perhaps you forgot to charge your cell last night, or it's just been a heavy cell day. If you're lucky, you might get a couple of minutes to finish your call.

A Simple Solution:
Enter the Charge2Go emergency cell phone charger. You pop in a single AA battery (alkaline, lithium, or even rechargeable), plug in the short connector cable, and hook it up to your cell phone's charging port. Two red LED's start flashing on the top to let you know it's providing power to your phone. The LED's go out when the AA battery is discharged. The main unit is best described as the size of a small flashlight or lipstick, so it easily fits in your pocket or laptop bag. I like that it takes a AA, since they're easy to find on the go. It also makes the Charge2Go reusable.

How It Worked:
I gave it a try with phones from LG and Motorola. Overall, it does the trick, but you have to know how to best use it. Initially, I was disappointed. I had tried to use the Charge2Go to recharge the phones' internal batteries, so I wouldn't have to talk on the phone with the charger attached. Three times it drained a fresh AA alkaline in about 30-40 minutes, but when I powered each phone back up, there was no noticeable increase in battery capacity. On the last test, the phone shut itself off within seconds.

After a helpful call with Charge2Go, I tried a different approach. This time, I used it as an auxiliary battery while making calls. It's a little strange to leave it dangling from the bottom of the phone, but it worked. On the same discharged phone that powered down immediately on its own, I easily made over 25 minutes of calls with the Charge2Go attached, and it still had capacity for more. When I detached the Charge2Go, the phone again powered down, so it was very apparent the Charge2Go did its job.

Construction:
The Charge2Go sports a metal barrel, with a nicely machined screw cap that twists very smoothly. Besides looking sharp, the metal barrel is functional. It dissipates the heat generated when discharging the AA battery quickly. Most often, it was only moderately warm to the touch. Only once did it feel on the hot side, so it's best to leave it out in the open while attached to your phone. It only draws substantial power from the AA battery when it's attached to your phone, so you can leave in a fresh battery until it's needed.

Pricing and Compatibility:
The Charge2Go is affordably priced and you can order online: $24.99 will get you the Charge2Go charger plus one phone connector of your choice included, all with free shipping. Additional phone connectors are only $2.99, again with free shipping. The charger comes in four colors: Black, Silver, Red, and Blue. There are currently 8 phone connector cables available online, and one for the iPod Shuffle for $3.99.

The web site contains a list of compatible phones and connectors. Some of the newest cell phones are not yet supported. After trying the Charge2Go, I recently upgraded to a fully-loaded LG VX8300 that has a slightly different charger port. The LG connector provided by Charge2Go doesn't fit due to some minor changes made by LG. It's a shame that some phone manufacturers change their charge ports between models, so Charge2Go will need to keep pace. The good news is that Charge2Go has already been working on providing additional connectors, so stay tuned.

Considering Alternative Solutions:
Road warriors usually have multiple chargers on hand, but we're not always within range of a wall or car socket. USB chargers help in a pinch, but you end up draining your laptop's battery unless you're plugged into AC. You can also buy a second phone battery, perhaps an extended one that provides longer life. However, those add to to bulge of your device. Also, some phone chargers can't charge the second battery unless it's actually in your phone at the time. That means buying yet another dedicated charger for the second battery to keep it topped off. (Believe me, I've looked at all of these.)

Don't overlook disposable chargers, such as those that look like Zippo lighters. Keep in mind they cost more than regular disposable batteries, but they don't dangle like the Charge2Go. However, if your phone's charging port is on the side, they can make holding the phone a bit awkward and cumbersome.

Bottom Line:
No solution is perfect, and the Charge2Go is best categorized as an emergency charger. Once you get past the dongle form factor, it's simple, affordable, and reusable. When used properly, it was effective in extending my talk time.

I should also note that the original Charge2Go charger reviewed here has been available for a while. In speaking with Ben Ovadia, their VP of Business Development, I've learned that a new model should be released very soon. He shared it will have even more charging capacity due to incorporating two batteries into the charging unit. Considering how power hungry most new mobile devices have become, this should be a welcome upgrade as long as the overall size and weight stays convenient for mobile use.

Palm OS Left Behind

A year ago, I posted what I thought about the various Palm OS announcements, and that it was probably going to be too little, and far too late.

Since then, PalmSource has been acquired by Access, and is stuck with the old Palm OS for at least another year. That will make at least three years from the last Palm OS release -- more like a decade in mobile tech doggy-time. Today I saw CNET News published an equally sober article, "Is the Palm OS Missing the Multimedia Boat?"

Users of mobile devices are increasingly looking for them to do more, and not just to play MP3's either. Business users like more interactive travel aids, maps, remote access to data, etc. Consumers are already primed for mobile multimedia (thanks in no small part to video iPods). Both markets are leaning more toward multitasking devices with better security. The Palm OS lacks native Java, which is required for some new mobile applications. PalmSource relies on external developers to come up with the cool multimedia tools, not a good sign.

Thus it's not surprising the latest Treo is running on Windows Mobile; however, it's not all peaches and cream. Former Treo 650 users tend to prefer their 650 over the new 700, at least from the online comments I've read. Thus it's not so much a prediction as it is an extrapolation these needs will quickly overpower the Palm OS even coupled with newer, faster hardware. Keep an eye out for more mobile applications geared towards Windows Mobile and Symbian platforms. It might just affect your next mobile gadget choice.

iPod Used as an Identity Theft Cache -- Only the Beginning

The San Francisco Chronicle reported yet another use for iPods: storing lots of stolen identity-related information. iPod users have known for quite some time that they can be used as portable storage for computer files, just like a thumb drive. Perhaps more troubling than a criminal using it that way is that the San Francisco police sounded surprised and considered this novel -- and that was the fraud division. They got their man through a sting operation, though, and I'm glad to hear it given the details of the identity thefts and other crimes perpetrated.

But it underscores the need for law enforcement and security professionals to consider new uses for everyday tech tools and gadgets, especially when theft of data with iPods is nothing new. As the Tech Law Prof Blog correctly pointed out on this issue, at least four years ago we learned that one could walk up to demo Macs in stores, plug in an iPod, and copy entire software programs for use on other Macs. I remember reading about this on Wired.com ("Have iPod, Will Secretly Bootleg") at the time. So why is this considered something "new"?

With all due respect to our police departments (I mean that sincerely), it sounds like they would benefit from a "Tech Culture 101"-type class. Give them some freebies to go play with -- iPods, thumb drives, camera phones, Treos, BlackBerries, Bluetooth devices, digital cameras, flash cards, etc. Show them how they work, how they capture, store, and transfer information, and perhaps most importantly, how easy it is to hide information on them "in plain sight". I hate to say this, but "you gotta think like a teen".

For example, it would not surprise me to hear one day very soon that someone was caught smuggling confidential information on one of the tiny flash cards inserted into innocuous-looking devices like a cell phone or a PSP (Play Station Portable). In fact, the PSP is quite a useful computer in its own right, well beyond playing games. Heck, you can already remotely control your home with it, not to mention all of these cool uses. Sony is also empowering it with the LocationFree console to stream all kinds of digital media to your PSP at any hotspot.

There's also a new project for porting Linux over to the PSP. As any hacker knows, once you've got Linux running on a capable device with Wi-Fi (yup, it's a Wi-Fi Finder too). . . well, it doesn't take much imagination, does it? Now that makes toting stolen info on your iPod très passé.

Enhancing Mobile Security - Feature Article

Organizations usually focus more heavily on protecting the castle by fortifying its defenses. However, mobile technology security can be a bit more challenging, in no small part due to the plethora and complexity of devices, user mobility, and increased risks outside the firewall. Sometimes it doesn't receive as much attention, or perhaps is perceived as less securable. Thus I've recently written a feature article on effective mobile security techniques, strategies, and policies, entitled "Enhancing Mobile Security". The downloadable PDF is compatible with Acrobat 5 or higher.

This was originally published as the cover feature in the February/March 2006 issue of Law Office Computing. I am greatly honored by Amanda Flatten, LOC's Editor and Publisher, for granting me permission to publish it here. Amanda, you're the best. If you're in the legal field and have any interest in improving your practice via savvy use of technology and keeping abreast of new developments, then I highly recommend a subscription to LOC.

Avoiding Mobile Computing Burnout

Whether you're a road warrior or just tote a few mobile gadgets, I think you'll find this article helpful in setting expectations and managing your stress from always being accessible. It was recently published online at eLOC, the e-magazine version of Law Office Computing. A hearty "Thank You" goes to Amanda Flatten, the Editor & Publisher extraordinaire, for graciously permitting me to post the entire published version here at LTG (especially for those of you who download the RSS feed).

Avoiding Mobile Computing Burnout

Use technology to enhance your work, not take over your life.

By Jeff Beard

It’s no secret that lawyers and legal staff have high-pressure jobs. As if we were not multitasking enough, mobile technology makes us even more accessible to client service and other demands. Untamed, it leads to information overload, multiple interruptions throughout the day and more stress.

Are your wireless gadgets just making you more wired? Do you need to go on a technology diet? Clients demand more access to you, and you want to provide good service. Mobile technology offers many tools to help you do just that. The problem is, sometimes they deliver too much of a good thing.

Consider how many devices and technologies are used to stay in touch: wireless e-mail devices; Wi-Fi laptops loaded with e-mail, office suite, time entry and various practice applications; cell phones; hands-free headsets; a lot of cables (laptop power brick, modem, Ethernet, universal serial bus, FireWire, audio, iPod charger, cell phone charger and personal digital assistant charger); home, office and cell phone voice mail accounts; professional and personal e-mail accounts; office, PC and Internet faxes; text messaging; instant messaging; replicated e-mail account on your laptop’s hard drive for offline reading; Virtual Private Networks, Citrix or other remote access software; camera phones, digital cameras and portable scanners; and a prepaid Starbucks card (for a liberal dose of Wi-Fi and caffeine).

That is a lot of technology to manage. It’s not uncommon to hear of professionals checking their e-mail in the middle of the night, while driving, during their children’s sporting events and let’s not even dwell on the restroom scenarios. While some will deny these stories, I have heard them all. The faster you respond, the faster your clients and co-workers expect you to in the future. After all, you reinforce their expectations with a five-minute turnaround from your BlackBerry or cell phone. Congratulations — you have just become a victim of your own success. All isn’t lost, however. There are a number of ways you can avoid mobile computing burnout and reduce information overload.

Set Reasonable Expectations

Jim Calloway, director of the Oklahoma Bar Association’s Management Assistance Program, recommends setting parameters with clients during the initial interview. “Communicate that you will normally get back to them within 24 hours, not including weekends,” Calloway said. “Share that you process messages on a first-in, first-out basis. Think about how you are going to handle the client relationship and what mobile access means.” The same goes for managing your relationship with your employer or co-workers. Calloway said legal professionals often can set themselves up for failure by committing to do too much, but setting realistic goals and ground rules will help you manage your workload.

Determine Which Mobile Devices Work for You

When it comes to traveling, less can be more. Ask yourself what you truly need to be productive and if you really will use what you take along. If you are reasonably tech savvy and comfortable with different gadgets and access methods, it might be worthwhile to have alternative technologies at your command. If you are not a technophile, then try introducing one new gadget at a time. That way, you are increasing the odds you will be comfortable using it on your own.

This might be a gross oversimplification, but generally I find two main types of BlackBerry or Treo users: those who can’t wait to get one, and those who really, really don’t want one, ever. If you are in the former category, make sure it’s for the right reasons and not just to have a status symbol or another tech toy. If you are in the latter category, take heart and use these tips to set reasonable expectations with others regarding your accessibility. You might be able to agree on alternative communication methods or less onerous response times.

Minimize Interruptions and Multitasking

Remember, technology speeds up many tasks, including the pace at which we make mistakes. “It’s important to recognize multitasking invites errors and misunderstandings,” Calloway said. “We have all sent e-mails that we wish we had never sent.”

Brett Burney, legal practice support supervisor at Thompson Hine in Cleveland, advises professionals to avoid the diminished returns of too much multitasking and to focus on the quality of work clients deserve.

Learn and Use the Technology You Have

Burney said he sees a lot of frustration stemming from underutilization of mobile gadgets. “One great way to avoid at least some of the tech-burnout today is to educate yourself on the functions of a device, and beyond that, even to learn a few tips and tricks,” he added. For example, instead of manually scrolling through e-mails, Burney said Treo users running GoodLink software simply can press the “T” key to jump to the top of the list to read a newly arrived message. “While it might only save me several seconds, I am happier because I am immediately looking at what I want to see. I realize this means spending more time with a device, either reading the instructions or just playing with it, but it pays off in the long run because I don’t get so frustrated,” he said.

Also, be cautious about adding mobile technology to your arsenal too quickly. Give yourself a chance to absorb it at a comfortable rate. Don’t ask for it if you don’t need it. If you need it, then learn how to use it properly and use it on a regular basis. Great tools are a wasted investment if you can’t use them when you really need them. Don’t wait until you are on deadline or two hours before a flight to pick up a new mobile tool without sufficient training. That is just asking for stress. Instead, plan ahead, test it and ask questions so you will be able to use it well before you leave. For instance, remote access accounts can become disabled if not used regularly. If you have VPN access, but use Web access most of the time, you could forget your VPN personal identification number or password, or the account might need to be reset. This is best summed up as “use it or lose it,” in which case you have unanticipated remote support problems adding to your stress level. Also, it’s not fun for the Information Technology folks who must support your remote technology. In many cases, an ounce of prevention keeps disasters at bay.

If you don’t have time to teach yourself how to properly use mobile technology, find out if your organization or a technology vendor offers any training or user guides. Portable cheat sheets and instruction cards are useful and easily fit into a briefcase or laptop bag.

Recognize That Technology Isn’t Perfect

Bad things often happen — batteries die, power cords get left behind, hardware fails, software applications have bugs, viruses abound, entire systems become unavailable at times, and yes, we all have made mistakes while using technology. That is life in the digital age. In recognizing this, however, we can generate effective alternate plans to get things done.

For example, if your cell phone or PDA dies, have a backup list of names and telephone numbers on your laptop or on a flash drive. Planning ahead for outages and problems is one of the best mobile lawyering stress relievers. It’s only a matter of time before Murphy’s Law strikes, and while it’s never fun, knowing you still can communicate and work productively under pressure is a nice safety net.

Use the “Off” Button

Mobile devices have to be recharged — and so do you. If you stay connected all the time, you will become drained and less productive. Put all your commitments into perspective and make adjustments. For instance, turn off wireless e-mail devices and cell phones at family events, or even better, consider whether you really need to bring them to these events at all. Admittedly, most of us like to carry cell phones for personal safety and convenience. In that event, it’s OK to send calls to voice mail. For this reason, I prefer phones with external Caller ID displays for triage purposes. Check if your phone offers a shortcut to manually force an incoming call to voice mail rather than having it vibrate or ring several times. For example, I discovered that pressing the side volume down button twice on my LG cell phone does the trick.

If you are in a meeting with a client, there is nothing worse to that client than constant buzzing or ringing interruptions. This gives the client the impression that you are not giving your full attention. Indeed, some firms have added this to their etiquette training. For longtime road warriors, cutting that wireless cord can feel strange at first, but it gets easier with practice.

As professionals, we are quite fortunate to have a wide variety of mobile tools at our disposal. As tools, they serve very useful functions. The trick is to manage them before they manage you by setting realistic expectations and ground rules. There still will be times when you become overloaded or frustrated, but I hope some of these tips better prepare you to anticipate and work through them.

Stress-Busting Tech Resources

• “Technology, Stress and the Lawyer’s Quality of Life,” by Jim Calloway, director of the Oklahoma Bar Association Management Assistance Program


• JDBliss, “A Blog for Attorneys Seeking Career Satisfaction, Work/Life Balance and Personal Growth”

Jeff Beard is the legal services IT manager with Caterpillar Inc., a Fortune 100 company headquartered in Peoria, Ill. He is a former practicing attorney, and is a frequent national author and presenter on contemporary legal technology and practice management issues. Beard enjoys working with mobile technology, and covers many such devices and issues on his blog, LawTech Guru. This article was submitted in his individual capacity, and all views stated are his own.

RIM Settles -- So What's Next?

RIM "took one for the team" in settling with NTP last week for a cool $612.5 million. While that's not chump change, it's understandable as the case was taking its toll on its customers and RIM's growth.

So while some are breathing sighs of relief, is RIM out of the woods? To answer this, you might want to read this NY Times piece, "Detractors of BlackBerry See Trouble Past Patents". Whether or not you agree with its tone, it does a nice job of laying out the coming challenges for RIM and its competitors, such as Microsoft and Palm. While BlackBerry is king of wireless e-mail, is that enough? For now, probably, but there will be customers who want more.

BlackBerry Shutdown Satire, Onion Style

You know the Crackberry has become a pop icon when the Onion satirizes it. Enjoy.

RIM Releases Information on BlackBerry Injunction Workaround Technology

As a follow-up to my last post, today RIM issued a press release and other "details of a software update (named BlackBerry Multi-Mode Edition™) that has been designed and tested as a contingency to allow RIM partners and customers to continue to use the BlackBerry service should the court implement an injunction in the current litigation involving the NTP patents."

The information discusses the legal ramifications, customer impact, and some explanation of the multi-mode software for switching over should the injunction be issued.

Other linked documents include:

• BlackBerry Multi-Mode Edition - Overview Paper


• BlackBerry Multi-Mode Edition - FAQ Document

BlackBerry Shutdown FAQ

Those with Crackberry anxiety due to the latest developments in the RIM/NTP case should find this interesting: CNET News has put together a very informative FAQ: Will BlackBerrys be shut down? It does a nice job of summing up the issues, developments, and possibilities.

New Cell Phone Concierge Service

Quick -- if asked, which mobile communication gadget do you think is most prevalent? I'd have to say it was the cell phone, including all the convergence variations.

That's why I like services that work easily for cell users, and not just the smartphones either. Things like Google SMS -- their free text message service that acts like Google for your phone. It's already helped me on the go many times, both around town and while traveling. Occasionally, it's even useful to send or receive e-mail via an ordinary cell phone and additional free services like Teleflip really make it easy.

Here's a newer one worth checking out: CNet News just covered AskMeNow, a pay-for service (49 cents per question, billed to your cell phone) that employs a research team who tries to answer and respond to your question via a text message within a mere three minutes. There's also a variety of free automated services per the web site: "Weather, Movie Times, 411 listings, Sports Scores, Directions, Horoscopes, Flight Information, Stock Quotes and more."

While there are limits on what they're willing to answer (for obvious reasons), the price is reasonable. If all you have handy is your trusty cell phone, the AskMeNow service just may be able to provide answers missed by other automated services. I haven't tried it yet, but it sounds great for travelers, particularly as we all know how limiting those tiny screens are for web surfing. Let someone else's fingers do the walking.

2005 Holiday Gadget Gift Guides

'Tis the season for all good gadget lovers to find something cool online, at some of the lowest prices of the year. I've made a list and checked it twice, so here's some great online technology gift guides, other resources, and tips to help you or that special someone get that ultra cool gadget that's been wanted all year:

Online Techno Gift Guides:

• PC Magazine has their 2005 Holiday Gift Guide, which includes daily gift ideas, a high tech wish list, product guides, shopping advice, and more. Perhaps one of the more useful columns is What Not to Buy in 2005. It tells you which items or technologies are on the way out, and which ones you should get instead.
• Computer Shopper has their Present Tech product roundups. It's nicely categorized into The Audiophile, The Frequent Flier, The Newbie, The Fun Lover, The Trendsetter, and Thrifty Gifts. Something for nearly everyone.
• CNet has their Editors' Choice Awards, listing products and services that have won their editors' nod for "best buys" in many categories, from PCs to home entertainment systems, peripherals, mobile tech, and more.
• Wired News offers The Ultimate Geek Gift Guide, by Home, Mobile, and Everything Else (which goes far beyond the mundane PC stuff, including a $1,000 Taser gun, for that hard-to-buy person).
• PC World checks in with Gadget Freak: Holiday Tech Grab Bag--Gadgets to Love or to Lose, an eclectic review of some of the good, bad, and the uglier side of holiday tech gift offerings.
• A bit closer to home, Reid Trautz offers his 2005 Holiday Gift Guide for Lawyers, a combination of the useful and whimsical stress relief.

Online Product Reviews:

Once you found something you like, how do you know how good it is? Is it a quality item, or just as likely to break right after the short warranty expires? Here are my preferred methods for finding this information online:

• Search for online reviews: I often search Google and other leading search engines by including the product name or part number, followed by the word "review". That usually brings up a number of useful reviews by professionals and consumers alike.
• Check out the customer feedback on Amazon.com, even if you don't buy from them. You'll likely find out in a hurry what's good or bad about it, similar products or complementary products, and perhaps even some great tips and tricks for using them.

Deal Finder Sites:

These are the unsung heros in online shopping. They quietly scour the web for all kinds of price cuts, rebates, coupons, specials, and other online and offline deals to save us a bunch of money. I've been able to pick up all kinds of tech gadgets at half prices by tuning into these sites. Some even offer RSS feeds, which are extremely useful if you have the right RSS reader.

I use FeedDemon, wherein I have a special group for these deal sites along with "Watches". Easily created in mere seconds, Watches automatically search the feeds as they arrive. They collect the matching results for anything I'd like to get at a phenomenally good price, such as flash memory cards, USB hard drives, etc. Think of it as news clipping for online deals. That way, I don't have to manually visit each site. I just look in a particular Watch bin to see which new deals match the desired product. All of this is especially important since these kinds of deals are very short-lived -- low-priced stock sells out in hyper-time, and the coupons/rebates expire almost as quickly. But if you jump on them within a day or two, you may have a pretty good chance.

Some of my favorites, complete with RSS feeds:

• Ben's Bargain Center


• DealCatcher


• dealnews


• DealUniversity


• More Stuff 4 Less Bargain Blog

Price Comparison Sites:

If you're shopping online, it'll often save you time and money to compare prices. PC Magazine has a review roundup of 6 price comparison sites, complete with ratings and good discussions on what's good and what's lacking.

My personal favorite and all around standby is Pricegrabber, but I've known to use Shopper, Shopzilla, Froogle, and Cairo on occasion.

Don't Forget the Customer Support:

Last, but certainly not least, it's important to be able to contact your online seller by telephone when you have a problem or question. Some online sellers make their customer support numbers accessible, while others would rather that you just leave them alone, as evidenced by a complete lack of contact information other than the dreaded e-mail support. That's a good sign in itself to steer clear regardless of the price. But if you just can't find it anywhere else or feel so compelled, DVDTalk.com offers this valuable consumer resource:

• DVDTalk's list of over 40 online retailers' Customer Service Phone Numbers & Email Addresses. Perfect for when you "just can't get no satisfaction".

Also, don't forget to read their return/exchange policies before ordering. Many online sellers charge a hefty restocking fee or don't allow returns of non-defective merchandise. I've often paid just a little more (say $5-$10) to get the same item from a respectable online seller like Amazon for this reason alone. It just wasn't worth my time, trouble, or risk dealing with some of these other outfits just to get the absolute lowest price. Good customer service is definitely worth something in my book, and who needs more stress during the holidays?

Like everyone else, I still buy a lot in stores. However, being a busy professional, sometimes it's just nicer to stay home and let my fingers do the shopping. I often find desired items I can't find in local stores, and at better prices. Have a Happy Holiday, and hopefully this will make your holiday shopping a bit more enjoyable and save you a few billable hours in the process.

New DVD Format Wars: Here We Go Again

Will history repeat itself with HD DVD vs. Blu-ray?

What is it about video technology that inspires two competing standards to put consumers smack in the middle? First there was VHS vs. Betamax, with VHS the undisputed winner. While Betamax produced superior image quality, VHS's longer play/record time won out. Regardless, having a single standard made it easy on manufacturers and consumers alike, and the home video market exploded.

More recently, there was DVD-RW and DVD+RW. For a time, the "-" and "+" formats were mutually exclusive. The two "standards" caused all kinds of compatibility issues, at least until drive manufacturers figured out how to include both formats in one device. No clear winner, though, just cohabitation. But it certainly seems to work.

So, just when we finally get to a DVD happy place, two new standards for high definition, high capacity DVDs are threatening to splinter the market. Again.

The two new formats are HD DVD and Blu-ray. Both use blue lasers instead of the red ones used in traditional DVD and CD drives. Due to blue light's shorter wavelength, they can pack more information on a disc.

Each format has different (and in some cases, the same) backers in the industry: Sony, Intel, Microsoft, Walt Disney, Paramount, Twentieth Century Fox, and others have entered the fray. News.com has done a great job of covering the evolving market turns and explaining the whole mess with the following articles posted over the last couple of days:

• FAQ: HD DVD vs. Blu-ray
• DVD dispute burns at PC makers
• Paramount looks to Blu-ray

High Definition TV (HDTV) and Enhanced Definition TV (EDTV) "standards" are confusing enough. Perhaps the drive manufacturers will find a way to either combine the blue laser DVD standards or at least get them to cohabitate. Right now, both camps are fairly polarized and spewing propaganda, so it could be awhile. Until then, at least you'll know what's coming our way in 2006.

Palm + Microsoft = Treo on Windows Mobile with Outlook

Co-opetetion makes for strange bedfellows. Who would have imagined just a few years ago that Palm and Microsoft would ever have joined forces? However, a short year ago, I posted here that Palm entered a licensing agreement with Microsoft for providing support for Exchange on the Treo line. Many wondered where this was going.

This week, Palm, Microsoft, and Verizon Wireless decloaked out of the stealth closet to announce their alliance, complete with an hour-long press conference with the heads of all three companies, and a brief demo of the new Treo. While watching the entire conference, it was quickly apparent that Bill Gates was the only one truly comfortable on stage, perhaps something of an omen.

To save you some of the PR chatter and mutual admirations, the demo starts at around 20:50 in the video, with audience Q&A beginning around 29:20.

Some of the highlights:

• The new Treo is expected to be out early 2006, running on Windows Mobile OS, not Palm OS (with all the fanfare PalmSource made over switching to Linux, this is a surprise to some).
• It will support Exchange ActiveSync, for an Outlook experience on the Treo.
• The blending of Treo and Windows features will enable one to bring up a contact's multiple phone numbers, text messaging, e-mail, and instant messaging options in a single quick pop-up.
• Verizon Wireless will offer the new Treo exclusively beginning early 2006, with it opening up to other carriers in the second half of 2006.
• Verizon will be supporting the Treo over their fast EV-DO data network.
• Due to the inclusion of the EVDO radio, expect it to cost more than other Treos.

Naturally, the press is quick to point out Palm's predicament, such as News.com's "Five reasons for Palm's slide".

Yes, Palm experienced a reversal in the PDA market, but they realize their strengths with the Treo. Rather than jump on the negativity bandwagon, I recall my opinion from a year ago:

"In the past, Palm and Handspring were great in making such announcements, but never seemed quite able to deliver on all the hype. Thus it will be quite interesting to see if the relatively new merging between Palm and Handspring, and its new relationship with Exchange, will finally give Treo the entré to the Enterprise it has so desperately been seeking since its debut. While other solutions have existed, Palm-based devices have long needed a more level playing field for the corporate wireless messaging market. This is a great announcement, but now palmOne needs to put its money where its mouth is and execute, execute, execute like never before. They're probably not going to get a better opportunity at the corporate market than direct support with Exchange (and thus Outlook)."

While I'm sure some are thinking "too little, too late", let's see if they can finally deliver on the hype. With the Microsoft juggernaut backing them this time around, coupled with Verizon's fast and highly rated EV-DO network, they've got a shot. Except that their toughest competition in the enterprise market was never Microsoft.

RIM has quietly proven itself in the enterprise, and is already embedded. That's what Palm is truly up against: It's not the better device or platform who will win. It's the one who can retain the CIOs and messaging managers at these companies, and RIM has a healthy head start. Unless these IT leaders experience serious problems with RIM, I predict they'll take the more conservative approach and stay pat with the one they know. Thus Palm's largest growth target are companies without wireless messaging. I think they'll win some and add revenue, but the real question is whether it'll be enough to make a substantial difference? While I'm intrigued by these new possibilities and love rooting for the underdog, I'm left thinking that Palm can do all the right things and still fall short.

Excellent iPod Parody Video

It's been out for a little while, but just seems all the more fitting and funny after the iPod Nano launch. If you've ever wondered how small the iPod could go, you'll love this.