Tom Keating : VoIP & Gadgets Blog
Tom Keating
CTO
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Gadgets

Gadgets

Apple and Cisco make iPhone love

February 22, 2007

Cisco and Apple said that they have settled the iPhone trademark infringement. lawsuit that has surrounded the much-hyped Apple iPhone mobile phone-iPod hybrid gadget. Apple and Cisco stated that Apple will be allowed to use the name for its mobile phone device in exchange for exploring wide-ranging ''interoperability'' between the companies' products in the areas of security, consumer and business communications.

No other details of the agreement were released, and representatives from both companies declined to comment. The companies stated that they would dismiss any pending legal actions regarding the trademark.

President's Day: Gadgets in History

February 19, 2007

Always thought it was a shame that President's Day collapsed Lincoln and Washington's birthdays into one single holiday (so what if they were born in the same month?).

Anyway, interesting to think back, particularly to colonial times, and consider what gadgets were in existence then. Personal electronics (ahem, must omit "electronics" -- not yet invented) or rather personal gadgets might largely have consisted of a pocket watch and a good knife.

"Tools" I think would be a more accurate description of the handy dandy items that were in use back then -- for cooking, clearing land, farming, etc.

Kwikset SmartScan Fingerprint Reader Lock

February 16, 2007

Ever lose your keys and can't unlock your front door? Ever resort to crawling through an unlocked window to get into your locked house and hope the neighbors don't call the police? Well, I have and it's not fun breaking into your own house.

Kwikset comes to the rescue with a fingerprint reader lock for doors.  Kwikset, one of America’s leading door lock companies, has developered this new keyless lock that scans your fingerprint and unlocks the door.

What's the Best Gadget To Take on Vacation?

February 15, 2007

Valentine's Day: Gadget Day?

February 14, 2007

Make It a Gadget for Valentine's Day

February 12, 2007

Forget the flowers, forget the chocolates (well, maybe not), but why not give your special someone a gadget for Valentine's Day?

I know it may be a thought that's considered "outside the box" -- now I'm thinking of those chocolates again ...

Indestructible USB Flash Memory Drive

February 12, 2007

Most USB flash drives are highly unreliable and can break down easily due to inferior plastic. It is unfortunate that most of us have our precious digital photos and other important files on USB Flash drives, but we don't consider the reliability or durability of our USB flash devices. Many USB Flash devices are suspended from our keychains and therefore are often tossed onto the coffee table with our keys, dropped, or used as a rattle toy for your 10 month old daughter. Ok, at least my 10 month old daughter.

Vringo Video Ringtones

January 31, 2007

Vringo's Jon Medved launched Vringo, a mobile application that brings "video ringtones" to mobile phones. Yeah, that's right. Video ringtones. When you call your buddy, you can send or receive video clips that will appear as your ringtone.

Jack Bauer now must contend with GPS and GSM jammers

January 30, 2007

Agent Jack Bauer CTU (Counter Terrorist Unit) of FOX's 24 fame relies on his trusty GPS-enabled mobile phone to get him where he needs to go, as well as call in Curis Manning from tactical for backup or even airstrikes to specific GPS coordinates. Jack also relies heavily on GPS tracking devices to monitor the location of the bad guys.

But things just got a bit harrier for Jack.  DetectNu, a Holland-based company has come up with a GPS and GSM jammer that you simply plug into your car's cigarette lighter. It will block any planted GPS tracker in your vehicle from transmitting location data back to CTU (or Jack's phone).

It also shuts down GSM mobile phone devices. Hopefully, Jack has a triband mobile phone so he switch to CDMA or perish the thought - analog.



TomTom Go 910 GPS units infected with viruses

January 30, 2007

News reports from TomTom's own website reveal that some TomTom GO 910 GPS units were infected with a virus. The models affected were produced in one week in the last quarter of 2006 with software version 6.51. They claim the virus is qualified as low risk and does not affect the navigation performance of the TomTom GO 910 in any way. However, reports have surfaced of drivers being re-routed from Lowes to Home Depot, Burger King to McDonalds, and from Target to Walmart.
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