Market research firm eDataSource reports that Amazon receives an average of 20,000 Kindle Fires pre-orders a day, with the first day racking up 95,000 orders. According to Cult of Android, which claims to have a source from Amazon, says the company gets 50,000 Fires pre-orders per day. By comparison, reports say that Apple iPad 2 orders hit about 1 million in the first weekend of sales. All that could change when the Fire comes out on November 15.

The current forecast for the Fire is 5 million units for the fourth quarter, but Forrester Research believes it may be closer to 3 million. In the second quarter of 2011, Apple has sold 9 million iPads 2.

With the cheapest iPad 2 going for $500 with 16 gigabytes and no 3G, the Kindle Fire offers an attractive price of $199. Other than price, does the Fire have anything on the iPad 2? Actually, yes.

1. Storage. Kindle Fire comes with 8 GB of internal storage plus free storage for Amazon digital content in the Amazon Cloud. It won’t have a slot for a storage card as it expects customers to use the cloud. While the cheapest iPad has more internal storage at 16 GB, Amazon’s free cloud storage may be enough for consumers who already purchase ebooks and music from Amazon. Winner: Tie.

2. Size. The 9.7-inch iPad is harder to hold with one hand compared to the 7-inch Kindle Fire, which is one-inch larger than the easy to hold 6-inch Kindle reader. The Fire weighs 14.5 ounces while the iPad 2 weighs 21.1 ounces. Though lighter, the Fire is thicker than the iPad at 0.45 inches to 0.34 inches. The other side of the size argument is that the iPad’s larger screen offers more for watching videos, playing HD games and surfing the Web. Winner: Tie.

3. Photos and videos. The iPad can take pictures and videos with its built-in camera and microphone. The Fire won’t have this feature. Winner: iPad.

4. Content. While iTunes may be the number one source for music, Amazon is right behind and it’s the number one source for ebooks with over 1 million books to Apple’s 200,000. Amazon has over 100,000 movies and TV shows that Amazon Prime Members can stream for free at $79 per year. iPad users have to pay for every purchase of its 50,000+ TV shows and 10,000+ movies.

Apple has 100,000 apps specific to the iPad to Amazon’s 16,000 apps in its Android app store. However, you can download an MP3 from Amazon and load it on your iPod, Android Tablet and smartphone — all with different operating systems. iTunes only syncs MP3s with compatible devices Oh, and the Fire runs Flash. Winner: Toss up.

5. Network. iPad has priciers 3G versions available. Both have Wi-Fi. Winner: iPad.

6. Battery life. iPad claims to have ten hours of battery life to the Fire’s eight. Winner: iPad.

6. Price. No competition. And because of this, consumers are more willing to sacrifice a few extras to buy a Fire for less than half the price of the iPad. Winner: Fire.

The two tablets don’t compare, so it comes down to price, size, photo/video capabilities and mobile needs. The Fire won’t be useful for connecting to the Internet while on the move since Wi-Fi isn’t available everywhere. Despite the missing features, consumers desiring a portable media tool will have a good alternative in the Fire to the pricey, feature-rich and heavier iPad.

What’s your take on the tablet wars? Which do you have or would want to have?

Initial Reaction to the iPhone 4S

In times where many companies release products to make a date, they sacrifice quality and risk losing customers. Apple’s holding off on the iPhone 5 implied that it needed more work. Too often, companies release products for the sake of company financials and not for delivering what customers need. How does a company know when a product is ready? It’s ready when it does what the product’s plans said it needed to do and it has passed all tests.

While the 4S didn’t impress, its features brought it to up to speed with the other devices on the market and delivered an easier to use product. Unlike many companies, Apple didn’t roll out a product with more features slapped on. Instead, it thoughtfully considered how users will use the 4S and produced a phone to do that.

Besides, what if Apple had called this its iPhone 5? Imagine the disappointment considering many refer to it as a minor upgrade. This article isn’t complete without a highlight of the iPhone 4S features.

iPhone 4S Features

• 4S has a dual-core A5 chip — same as the iPad 2 — for a faster experience with two times faster processing and seven times faster graphics.
• The digital camera has 8-megapixel resolution and a larger aperture for sharper photos and improved white balance.
• The 1080p HD video records up to 30 frames per second for clearer videos and includes video editing right from the phone.
• 4S uses iOS 5, which integrates Twitter and adds a notification center displaying latest texts, emails, reminders and more.
• It turns a cloudy day into a sunny one with iCloud so you don’t have to worry about losing your data as it stores up to 5GB for free.
• The 4S relies on two antennas for sending and receiving to up the speed from the iPhone 4′s 7.2 Mbps to the 4S’ 14.4 Mbps.
• It introduces Siri Assistant for barking commands to the iPhone.
• The 4S retains the same design and material, so it’s just as breakable as the iPhone 4.

Reading Apple Tea Leaves

Thanks to iPhone 4S release, the iPhone 4 became more affordable. While the iPhone 5 would’ve led to lower iPhone 4 prices, not releasing a major upgrade made it easier for people to decide what to do.

The prediction is that few will upgrade from iPhone 4 to 4S. Most of the people getting the 4S will be new iPhone users or those wanting to dump their pre-iPhone 4 phone. For the price-conscious, they’ll go for the more affordable iPhone 4.

No matter the outcome of the iPhone 4S, thanks goes to Steve Jobs for making this and many other articles possible because writing about Apple products is always exciting because it creates exciting products even when they disappoint.

What do you think of the iPhone 4S features? What phone do you have? How will the announcement affect your future phone plans?

If you’re not sure which type you want, think about how you will use the phone. Will you read email, ebooks and documents? Write? Edit documents? Use social networks? Browse the Internet? Take pictures? Play games? The list goes on.

If you just use the phone to make calls, you don’t need much. Otherwise, here are the features to ponder when shopping for a smartphone.

Memory. The amount of memory depends on how you use the device. Photos, videos and media take more memory. However, memory is cheap, so the limitation depends on your smartphone’s capabilities. iPhones, for instance, don’t allow storage cards. What you get is all you get. As a minimum, 32GB is safe. 16GB is doable if you don’t fill it up with apps, games and pictures.

Writing. If you’ll be entering a lot of text, one factor to look for is the keyboard. More phones are moving toward an on screen keyboard, but there are still phones with a built-in keyboard with some having a sliding keyboard.

Media. To support media, pick a phone with plenty of storage. Also, beware the phone needs the right media player to play file types you want to play and your plan supports streaming.

Reading. Readers may want to look for phones with a bigger screen for a more comfortable experience. Ebooks depend on the format of the books you plan to read. Figure out what ebook format you want so you can verify your phone supports it. Amazon has a Kindle app that’s compatible with most phones.

For reading Word and other types of documents, the phone needs to have a viewer that can open the types of files you want to read. If you want to edit the documents, you’ll need to find out if the phone has apps available for opening and editing files. Aim for a screen resolution higher than 480×800.

Photos. Camera phones come with different resolution capabilities. Shoot for five megapixels or higher.

Business networking. BlackBerry has earned it reputation as corporate phone because it can seamlessly connect with a company’s network. Companies tend to restrict what phones can access, so if it’s important to access the network, ask your company for suggestions or requirements.

Internet. Most phones come with a built-in web browser and browsers you can download. Before you go to the store to look at phones, make a list of websites that are important or that you want to access often. Use those to test the phone’s Internet browsing capabilities.

Available applications. Some popular desktop apps are available for mobile devices. For example, most social networks have apps for mobile devices to provide a better and faster experience. While you can connect to social networks through the phone’s web browsers, they’re not usually as phone-friendly as the apps specifically created for the phone.

GPS. Do you want to use the phone for getting around? If you use an app like Google Maps, it will rely on the phone’s connection to track your location, so you wouldn’t need a built-in GPS component. Verify the phone’s capability by trying out Google Maps on the store’s connected phone.

Wi-Fi. Do you want to connect to a Wi-Fi network? This speeds up your Internet connection when you access Wi-Fi networks available in the home and retail stores offering Wi-Fi.

Games. Some phones have more games available than others. If you’re looking to add specific games, check to see if the game is compatible with your smartphone.

Battery life. Phones have different levels of battery life. It’s wise to buy a backup battery to carry with you.

Size and weight. Be aware that smartphones are bigger and heavier than basic phones.

After you complete your research and narrow your list, visit the mobile store to try the phones. Most mobile stores connect all of their phones to the network so you can play with them to see what works for you.

What phone do you use? What do you like and don’t like about it? What phone interests you?

The Blackberry was touted as the personal digital assistant. It made it easy to keep a calendar, message, and send mobile email. Anyone who was everyone had a Blackberry. President Obama had one. Elaine had one on the semi-Seinfeld Reunion that took place on Curb Your Enthusiasm, prompting Jerry to ask if she was “one of those Blackberry people” who would text and email in the middle of conversations. Even my dad has one—and refuses to switch over to Android or iPhone.

And while 2010 showed a sharp increase in Blackberry sales, the fact is that the phone isn’t enjoying the popularity it once was. It’s having to share stage time with all those fancy smartphones that companies keep throwing out at us.

All of this leads me to pose the question: is the Blackberry dead?

Blackberry’s strength

No doubt, the Blackberry has hung around for quite some time. In fact, the first one came out way back in 1999, the year I graduated high school. And here I am, 12 years older and more than 12 pounds heavier, and I’m still talking about the Blackberry. That said, it must have some strong selling points–right?  Something that puts it over the stiff competition…but what is it?

I wracked my brain for quite awhile trying to answer that question. And after about an hour of pouring through news articles and techy blogs, here’s what I decided: the number one feature that puts Blackberry above its competition is its messaging capabilities. Emails fly faster from Blackberry to Blackberry than from cpu to cpu. And the speed of Blackberry messenger can be matched by no other phone.

And that’s it.

Blackberry’s weaknesses

I can describe Blackberry’s weaknesses in two words: everything else. Okay, maybe that’s a bit of a stretch, but I would definitely argue that Blackberry isn’t keeping up with the times in respect to web surfing, media, and all those other fun things.

And when they spent millions (or billions?) hyping the release of the Torch, they definitely garnered some attention. But let’s face it—the phone was a disappointment. In fact, it has been described by several as having a very buggy performance. There’s little doubt that anyone who is looking to surf the web and use various types of media is going to choose one of their other smartphone options.

My conclusion

As mentioned earlier, we’ve seen everyone from President Obama to the character Elaine to my own father using the Blackberry. And I’d like to suggest that therein lies the problem. Blackberry is failing to reach the younger, trendier market share. And while iPhone and Android and all those others are being snatched up by the younger crow, the Blackberry is stuck in the hands of the aging.

Do you see the issue here?

No, the Blackberry is not dead. But it’s aging fast and unless the creators over at RIM can find away to get into the heads of our youth, chances are it will die.

*This post was typed on my iPhone.

Luckily, there are a multitude of alternative programs that have been created to work with the iPad. Several of these I have tried, as I prefer to test out software for myself before settling on one. Sometimes I keep more than one and use them when I feel like it. Out of every browser I tried for the iPad, there were three that really stuck out. All of them are free to use, easy to download, and will save you a lot of time.

1. Terra

A complete, functional web browser, Terra offers a lot of positives that have made it as popular as it is. First of all, the fullscreen feature is easy to use and takes full advantage of the large screen of the iPad. It also has tabs, making it easy to keep more than one web page open at one time. No more constantly loading and reloading to see what you need.

If you need something that you won’t always have WiFi available for, you can save pages in offline mode, or save as a file. There are full bookmarks, and an incognito mode.

2. Night Browser

Have you ever found yourself next to your spouse and wanting to read or surf the net, but not wanting to disturb their sleep? We all have insomnia sometimes. If this sounds like you, you need Night Browser. Designed to offer you a way to use the net without your screen shining too brightly, it allows you to customize it so that it is dim enough to keep from bothering the person next to you, but bright enough to allow you to see.

The only downside to this program is that it has next to no features. So you probably won’t want to use it for day use, but purely as a good night option. You will get Google search in the top bar, which is nice.

3. LastPass

Everyone has a mass of passwords to remember. It is the cardinal rule: use a different password for every site, to avoid making it too easy for phishers to get your info online. But it can be a pain signing into each one, especially since the iPad has a serious problem with remembering passcodes. This leads to an endless entering for Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, email accounts and more.

This is a must have for me, because you can sign in with a master code through the main browser to every registered account. It is private, easy to use and saves so much time and irritation. I even use it for work related accounts when I have to sign in for small tasks. I use it on my computer, as well.

Understanding the needs of small businesses and home users, MvixUSA has come up with a very attractive solution. The MvixBox offers many of the features consumers have been asking for in a network media player.  Here are some of the features that the new system offers:

Media server

The MvixBox provides gigabit network speed and large storage capacity, which makes it an ideal system for storing, serving, and transferring media files from one location to another. You can store media files, such as AVI, MPEG, and DIVX movies or MP3 files. From a different room in your home or a meeting room, you can access the content any time needed.

Web Disk Capability

The MvixBox is a Linux-based system, and it comes with what everyone expects Linux servers to include – Apache, MySQL, SQLite, and PHP. To make the server user friendly, a web-disk capability is also provided.  This means the user can drag and drop files between the PC and NAS server. User can launch applications like Windows Explorer, WebDisk Explorer, blog software, RSS reader, Torrent client, and more.  The setup ensures that anyone who knows how to operate a PC in the Windows environment will know how to handle a MvixBox.

Web Server

The web server is perhaps the most interesting feature of all. Since the MvixBox comes with support for Apache, MYSQL, and PHP, you can host web sites directly from the server. There are many different types of sites that you can setup – blogs, wikis, personal home pages, etc. If you don’t want to host web sites, you can even develop scalable intranet solutions using the database support.  This capability makes it one of the most affordable web server solution that the market has to offer for small businesses and home users.

DDNS Server

In order for a web server to recognize Internet domain names, there needs to be a DNS server (or in this case DDNS so that dynamic IPs can be supported). The domain name is mapped to the server IP address, and the DDNS service enables the server to recognize the domain name. Traditional servers supported mostly static IPs. For this reason, you can’t usually operate a web server from home, as most home Internet connections operate on dynamic IPs. Dynamic IPs change all the time, as they are assigned by the ISP. Fortunately, the MvixBox offers free support for dynamic IPs. There is no extra charge for the use of this service.

NAS, Torrent Sharing, and FTP Management

MvixBox offers a simple file sharing feature that provides file encryption when transferring files using HTTP or FTP protocols. You can use the built-in Explorer to transfer files, without having to install additional software.
The system boasts simple and secure administration.

As this is an NAS server, one would expect it to come with simple backup features. The MvixBox does come with easy-to-use data storage scheduling and synchronization. The software is included with the system.

For all the above features, an enthusiast would expect the price tag to be hefty. However, this is not true. The MvixBox retails for around $249.00.  Each unit includes two built-in hard drive bays that are capable of holding up a 1.5 terabyte (TB) hard drive. The hard drives are not included. Therefore, you can buy any size that best meets your needs.  Even with the most expensive hard drive bundled, the entire system still costs just about $600.
 

One of the first things you’ll notice about the camera is the Carl Zeiss lens located on the left side of its uniquely horizontal body. The microphone is located on the right, and you’ll also find a button beside the lens that allows you to take pictures. Around the Logitech logo is an indicatory illuminated circle that lets you know when the QuickCam Pro 9000 is on. It has a very unique, two-hinged support structure that bends in different shapes so that you have the versatility to either secure the webcam to a CRT or LCD monitor or stand it on a table.

Regardless of the features a webcam has, it must be able to transmit great image and sound for it to be a worthy solution. With a 2 megapixel Carl Zeiss lens, Logitech’s new QuickCam quickly put all our other webcams to shame. Everyone that we had a video chat with via instant messaging said the image transmitted was extremely sharp and of astonishingly high quality. Using the high resolution setting on the QuickCam, we were able to enjoy full screen video chat with contacts without image noise. One of the best features of the camera is HD recording, which allows you to record in HD, for those who love to make high quality videos and host them on your PC or online.

The QuickCam Pro can be purchased for about $113, which is affordable for the quality provided. You definitely won’t need another webcam for awhile if you purchase the new Logitech QuickCam Pro 9000.

The Moshi IVR alarm clock features TimeSet technology and is the first alarm clock that requires only voice commands to set the time and alarm. Using IVR Technology, Interactive Voice Recognition, commands are initiated with a simple "Hello Moshi".  The system responds by asking "Command Please?". The device’s IVR technology uses a mixture of HMM Phonetic Speaker Independent Recognition software and Neural Net software, which makes it possible for the clock to understand numerous accents and enables large vocabulary recognition. The alarm clock is always listening, screening conversations, and waiting for the keyword "Hello Moshi" to initiate commands.

Novel clock users will love the convenience of the Moshi IVR Alarm Clock. No more getting out of bed to turn it off.  You can ask Moshi the time while you’re getting ready for work, and it’ll also tell you the current temperature. A night light is included as well.  The Moshi IVR alarm clock is a great tool for blind and visually impaired individuals, and the World Blind Union endorses Moshi because of its simplicity with verbal commands.

Listed below are the voice commands available when using Moshi:

Design and Dimensions

Even though there aren’t too many differences in the exterior of the models, we are going to point them out before we get to the hardware. The screen size is exactly the same at 3.5" on both models, which provides for an ultra-clear 480×320 screen resolution. The rear of the original iPhone has a smooth metal finish with a black strip at the bottom. The front of it has a shiny metal piece that surrounds the side of the phone and ends behind the screen. The iPhone 3G has a smooth piano black or white finish. It also has the shiny metal piece around the outside of the screen. The iPhone 3G features buttons that are made from a shiny metal, excluding the home button. This gives them a sturdier feel compared to its predecessor. The shape of the 3G phone is a major difference as the original iPhone is a little thicker and completely flat when set down. The 3G has more of a round feel to it that flattens out slightly around the edges. It has been said that the screen of the 3G heats to a warmer temperature than that of the original iPhone.

Features & Technical Specifications

Once we get under the hood, we begin to see where the 3G separates itself from it’s older brother. The iPhone 2G only supported WiFi, GSM, and Bluetooth. This means its speed surfing the Internet were quite limited. The iPhone 3G introduced 3G speeds to Apple’s flagship model, and it also supports WiFi, GSM, and Bluetooth. This makes for a better experience surfing, watching Youtube videos, and downloading data onto the phone from the Internet. The first generation iPhone supported the following frequencies:  GSM and Quad-Band (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz). The iPhone 3G supports all of those frequencies, but added to the list quite a few more to enable running at 3G speeds, including UMTS/HSDPA (850, 1900, 2100 MHz). The iPhone 3G also supports GPS, which was not included in the original iPhone.

Both phones have a 2MP camera, but do not feature a video recorder. The iPhone 3G weighs 4.7 ounces compared to the 2G’s weight of 4.8 ounces (not a notable difference). The only downside to 3G capabilities is that it eats into battery life.  The iPhone 2G beats out the newer version in that regard by providing up to 8 hours of talk-time compared to 5 hours with the 3G.

Bottom Line

Comparing two great phones is always hard, but Apple made a great move by creating the 3G iPhone. The iPhone 2G is impressive, but with the features the 3G provides and the transition with new phones all moving to 3G, it’s a definite requirement if Apple wants to maintain its new status as the #1 selling phone in the US.

The controls for the camera are extremely easy and can be learned in a matter of seconds. The Kodak Zi6 uses a joystick – tap once to record, another time to stop, to the left to play a video, and to the right to stop. The setup is great for those not as tech savvy, allowing everyone to use the camera because of its simple control scheme.

The USB port, of course, makes it simple to transfer video and photos to your PC.  A Macro mode feature is available that boosts image quality when focusing on something close up. It has a large LCD screen for viewing videos and photos captured.  A mirror is also integrated on the back for those who wish to take pictures or video of themselves.  The camera also includes built-in speakers so that video content can be accessed with sound immediately after recording.

The camera is an excellent option for those who like to record video on the go, and could make for a special gift to unwrap on December 25th.

Flipbac Features:

• Easy shooting from low angle or ground level positions
• Take accurate pictures from unusual positions, including ground level, waist-high, or overhead
• Snap candid, natural, and relaxed portraits
• High quality LCD screen protector shields the camera when not in use
• Viewfinder supports angles of more than 180 degrees for both landscape and portrait orientations
• Compatible with most digital point-and-shoot and SLR cameras with 3" LCD screens

Pricing information has not yet been released, but should be available from the official product page soon.

The exterior design of the Archos 5 is made of stainless steel, which provides for a very solid build quality.  However, it also results in the player being highly prone to smugging and fingerprints

The new player also boasts Internet operations such as web browsing and email.  streaming video is also available.  While some Internet TV content appears clear and smooth, other services yield jerky, low resolution content. Of course, this is not under the control of Archos, but it is worth mentioning nonetheless so that buyers are not surprised.

The Archos 5 is compact at 5”x3”x.5”, with a weight of .55 pound for the 60GB version and 5”x3”x.75”, with a weight of .66 pound for the 120GB and 250GB versions.

Available accessories for the unit include the DVR Station, which allows customers to connect the Archos directly to a television for recording TV programs onto the device or transmitting content from the media player to the TV. GPS and Webcam accessories are also available.

Prices

• Archos 5 60 GB Internet Media Tablet:  $339.49
• Archos 5 120 GB Internet Media Tablet:  $389.49
• Archos 5 250 GB Internet Media Tablet:  $439.49

It serves very well as a photo frame because as a standalone gadget, it is able to store over 700 photos with its in-built 128MB memory. The product features auto image rotation for vertical or horizontal placement. If the in-built memory is not enough, adding additional storage devices is also possible. The UFOTO supports CF/FD/MMC/MS/xD cards and an external USB flash drive. It can be plugged into an AC power source, or it can operate on its own, drawing power from its in-built rechargeable battery. It even allows photo searching by specific dates. Several  popular image formats are supported, including JPG (the most common), BMP, and GIF.

The UFOTO looks very elegant sitting on a desk or hanging on a wall. Left on its own, it is able to display a huge number of photos in a slideshow. To make the slideshow more interesting, it is also possible to play MP3 while the slideshow is displaying.

Similar to full-size LCD monitors, the UFOTO is also capable of adjusting its brightness according to the surrounding ambiance automatically. For example, when the surrounding light dims, the display adjusts itself until a comfortable level is attained. This is to ensure that the photos are always displayed in the best possible light.

The other primary function that the UFOTO serves is as a secondary LCD monitor. When plugged into the USB port of a desktop computer, the display can be synchronized to either look exactly like the parent monitor or display a totally different application altogether. This is useful for being able to see your screen from another location or running multiple applications concurrently without cluttering up monitor space.

For those who are concerned about the design of the unit, the ASUS UFOTO comes in three cool colors: star silver, blush pink, and sky blue. It has a shiny exterior casing, which makes the appearance highly compatible with Apple desktops and laptops.

Finally, note that the ASUS UFOTO is designed to be a simple piece of hardware. As the USB video technology is still in its infancy, do not expect the UFOTO to be able to display advanced 3D graphics. However, the technology at its current stage is ideal for displaying photos, playing music, or even watching videos. Available at a mere 06kg, the UFOTO is perhaps the smallest monitor around with this much functionality.

The problem with many Smartphones is that they use a proprietary operating system. In other words, the OS that is used is different from the normal Windows OS that most computer users are familiar with. This means that applications for the Smartphone are limited, and it is rare for developers to venture into developing applications solely for the Smartphone OS, which causes consumer to consider other options.

Laptops and netbooks work like the personal desktop, but they can still be considered bulky when compared to a gadget the size of a phone. The UMPC (Ultra Mobile PC) comes very close to meeting the needs of many consumers, but it does not include phone functions.

Fortunately, Korean company MIU managed to find a way to integrate phone functions into the UMPC. They call this the HDPC, which is actually a hybrid of the Smartphone and the UMPC. The HDPC runs on the Windows operating system. This means that the consumer is able to use the HDPC to launch any applications developed for the Windows OS. In addition, the owner of the HDPC can also use it as a normal phone.

It is not uncommon to see Chinese companies bundling several key features together in one device. On top of computer and phone functions, the HDPC also has a digital TV receiver built into it. Two cameras are built into the device as well – one is for video chat (VGA) and the other is for taking photographs (3 megapixels). Obviously, the goal is to have as many functions as possible, packed into a single device to ensure consumers do not have to bring multiple devices along while on the move.

Although the HDPC device may appear rather bulky at first glance, many consumers actually welcome the multiple functions offered by the HDPC. One can use it to play music, play videos, work on Microsoft Word documents, and even watch TV. These functions have never been realized in a single device. The HDPC is a sleek looking device. One may easily mistake the HDPC for an ordinary Smartphone but on closer examination, the top half of the device can actually be flipped open to reveal a Qwerty keyboard underneath.

Enthusiasts will eventually have to weigh several factors before making a purchase. These factors include the above mentioned features, the weight, and the price. Obviously, the features and weight (at less than 400g) are looking good. So that leaves the price. It has been stated on various news sources that if the price is around the $500 range, this can be one of the most tempting gadget to acquire.

The WD TV offers HDMI and composite video connections. ArcSoft MediaConverter 2.5 is included with the packaging for photo, video, and audio file conversion in case file compatibility is an issue at any point.  However, the WD TV player provides comprehensive format support. 

Video formats supported include AVI (MPEG-4, XviD, AVC), MPEG-1/2, WMV9, MOV (MPEG-4 and H.264), MKV, and H.264.  MP3, WMA, OGG, PCM WAV, AAC, FLAC, AIF/AIFF, and MKA are supported for audio.  JPG, GIF, PNG, TIF/TIFF, and BMP image formats can be viewed.  PLS, M3U, and WPL playlist formats are also recognized.

Aside for the player itself and the conversion software already mentioned, the packaging also includes a stand for WD My Passport hard drives (although any type of USB drive can be used), a remote control, composite AV cables, AC power adapter, and installation guide. The WD TV provides a simple, affordable solution for playback of PC video formats.  Note that the WD TV does not currently offer network support/streaming functionality.

Pricing for the WD TV is expected to be around USD $125.00, and will be available through all major retailers.

Major Functions Include:

• The compact, all-in-one unit provides video and music enjoyment anywhere, hands-free
• Media Port UP offers the same experience as viewing a 50-inch screen from a three meter distance
• The system boasts a compact, lightweight display that provides a high-quality image from the use of a new adhesion double-layer diffractive optical element (DOE) lens
• The UP300x includes an integrated motion sensor that enables hands-free operation, such as volume control, file selection, playback, pause, etc. via head movement
• 8GB of internal memory is provided (a lower-end model is also available with 4GB)
• The system is designed with a high eyepoint and diopter adjustment that allows easy use for anyone, even those who wear glasses
• Wi-Fi connectivity allows for web browsing as well as media content downloading through the unit
• A content distribution service for the system will also be available soon for convenient download and enjoyment of desired movies and music
• Windows Media content is fully supported

Here are some of the less-obvious gadgets that you may want to consider when traveling:

1) IOGEAR Portable Media Player

With the ability to store 50 DVD movies on its 120 GB hard drive, the IOGEAR Portable Media Player is quite possibly your best friend on travels. It is tiny compared to other PMPs and offers the unique ability to convert standard definition content up to 720p HD resolution. Even better, you won’t be stuck paying $9.99 per movie in hotels. This little gadget will hook into just about anything that can play movies.

2) Mobile Printers

When doing business abroad, don’t assume that you won’t need a printer when you reach your destination (or when you’re on the way). It’s always good to be prepared in the event printing is required. Trying to hook up to someone else’s printer requires drivers. Transferring files to computers that already have printer hookups results in inconvenience from the transfer as well as any security concerns. Then, there is always the potential for a printer to not be available at all. When considering mobile printers, size matters. It’s probably better to take a more compact solution and sacrifice a little speed.

3) Video Eyeware

You’re probably wondering why you will need video eyeware. When traveling, there is one thing to always keep in mind — there is always someone looking over your shoulder. Therefore this gadget should definitely be in the list of your top gadgets for travelers. This nifty little piece of technology, the EnVision Video Eyeware, gives you privacy and the ability to be completely unobtrusive to travelers around you. Before you say “but you have to connect to your laptop to play”, check out. the product information.  You’ll likely be surprised at its capabilities.

4) Portable GPS Navigation

Trying to rely on maps and directions when driving in unfamiliar territory can be an unnecessary burden. Many car rental companies charge a super-premium price to have a vehicle with navigation. For those who travel and rent often, a portable GPS navigation system is perfect for keeping on the right path.  We have mentioned the Garmin GPSMAP 640 GPS navigation system previously.  Another option, the portable GPS by Delphi, has many features and an attractive price tag.  The unit allows you to input places on your itinerary to receive directions, saving time and energy during the trip that can be spent on more important things.

5) True Global Travel Plug Adapter

If you will be traveling internationally, remember that the power outlets overseas are different from one another. Gadgets also have different plugs. Having the means to power up may sound simple, but without a tool like the Travel Plug Adapter, you may end up being out of juice, out of luck, and out of time.

Regardless of where you travel or how often, having the important gadgets with you can make or break a trip.  The best thing about all the gadgets mentioned is that they can all fit in one nice, neat travel bag for placement inside a suitcase or work as one of your carryon bags.

Business is all about being prepared. This information should make preparation easier and your trips a more enjoyable experience.