Dogs and cats living together – mass hysteria! Yes, now you too can become terrified beyond the capacity for rational thought. And no, you won’t need to cross the streams to do so! It’s the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man. Boxed up in 24 bite-sized pieces with added caffeine for those late night Ghostbuster marathons! So fire up your unlicensed nuclear accelerator – or just go to http://staypuftmarshmallows.com. Personally Lenny, I think it’s a sign from God … but don’t quote me on that.

There has been much talk about using hydrogen as a fuel. While it still may take quite a while longer to see widespread use of hydrogen as a fuel for cars, we may actually see hydrogen as a fuel for small electronic devices fairly soon. The HydroFILL and HydroSTIK were featured at the Consumer Electronics Show in January. At the time the devices were to released later this year. While it does not appear the products have been released yet, in anticipation I think they make a good Tech Toy of the Month.

The simple explanation for how these devices work is that the HydroFill extracts hydrogen out of ordinary water, which becomes attached to a special metal alloy that can be plugged into the HydroSTIKs. The HydroSTIKs are designed in battery-like form factors, which should allow them to be used like normal batteries. When the HydroSTIKs are depleted, the metal alloy is put back into the HydroFILL and “recharged” again

If commercially successful, products like these that can use hydrogen as a fuel source could save a lot of power, reduce the amount of batteries being thrown in landfills, and reduce air pollution. So let’s keep an eye on this technology and see where it takes us.

If you have questions about this or any other emerging technology, please contact me an I’ll be glad to give you my thoughts.

- submitted by Ken Kelley

A: There is a lot of buzz in the technology industry about 4G wireless networks. As well, some wireless providers, such as Sprint and Clear, are advertising their 4G networks on TV and other mainstream media. As with many technology buzzwords, terms like 3G and 4G can be confusing to those who don’t spend all day studying the latest tech trends. Luckily, I am here to help explain!

The “G” in 3G and 4G stands for “generation”. In this case we are talking about digital cellular wireless networks. As with most technologies, the next generation is usually bigger or faster and that holds true for 4G wireless as well. 4G networks promise to deliver speeds much faster than today’s 3G networks. In fact, the speeds should be similar to cable or DSL services. What this will allow is for people to use the Internet while on the road just about as fast as they can at home or the office. For those who use the Internet a lot while on the road, this can mean a lot more productivity and flexibility in where to work. It will give people who can not get cable or DSL service another option for high-speed Internet service.

However, your current 3G phone or data device will not work with 4G networks. So of course, you’ll need to get a new phone or mobile data device to take advantage of a 4G network. Also, at this time, the only major cellular provider offering 4G networks is Sprint. Verizon and AT&T plan to start rolling out their 4G networks this fall, but likely won’t have coverage beyond major metropolitan areas until well into next year.

We are just on the verge of widespread 4G network availability. For many, the upgrade to 4G probably won’t be an option until late into next year. So for now, just keep an eye on the progress of the networks and likely by the time you’re ready for your next phone, you can consider 4G models.

If you have a technology question, feel free to submit it to me and it may be featured in a future article!

A handful of times in the last few weeks I have been asked about the risk of data left on old copiers or printers. In fact, I was pointed to a CBS news report about this potential problem. From my research, it was this report from earlier this year that seems to be the catalyst for all the concern. This report is well worth reading or watching, and I suggest you do so, but don’t get overly alarmed quite yet. As with many news reports, it can be easy to get caught up in the story. But there are a few factors to consider in determining your risk.

The root of the problem lies in the fact that many digital printer/copiers have hard drives in them. In the case of a copier or printer with a hard drive, that drive can be used to store images of the files that were run through or printed by the machine. Just like a hard drive from a computer, it is possible to retrieve data off the drive even if the data was deleted. it’s not always possible, but it can be done under the right circumstances. So those images that the copier or printer stored could possibly be retrieved later, when the device is sold or returned from lease.

The risk is definitely real. However, the question is who exactly is at risk? The CBS report states that “nearly every” digital copier made since 2002 have hard drives in them. I question that assertion. Based on my research, the more accurate statement would be “nearly every high-end digital copier”. In the case of digital copiers and printers, “high-end” would mean larger, high-output devices that you normally only see in large offices or printing shops. The reality is that most small businesses don’t have “high-end” digital copier/printers. However, the reality also is that high-end technology does trickle down into mainstream technology over time. Printer/copiers that may have been only used by larger businesses several years ago may now be in use by smaller businesses.

So are you or your business at risk? For most small businesses, I’d say likely no, but one can’t be sure until each digital printer/copier is evaluated. The businesses most at risk are those that handle sensitive information, such as medical, insurance, or financial offices. But there are steps that can be taken to ensure that sensitive data is not retrievable from old printer/copiers. In addition, many manufacturers have encryption technology built into their devices that is supposed to make them more secure. So while the risk is real, it is relatively easy to prevent the problem from happening – if you are aware of the problem in the first place.

If you are concerned about protecting the data that is passing through your copier or printer, feel free to contact me. I can help you determine your risk and what steps you may need to take to secure your data.

I must wonder what the practical application of this really is. Do we really need robots flipping our pancakes? However, they do have another video on this site that shows a robotic arm learning to to iron clothes. Now that’s something useful! So take a look at this site and see what the future of flipping will be like.

When I was a kid around this time of year, feelings of dread would start to creep in on me. It was back to school time and nothing could stop the inevitable march back to the jail cells they called classrooms … well at least it felt that way to me! Anyway, some kids would get excited about back to school shopping, but I never really did. Pens, pencils and notebooks just didn’t seem all that interesting to me. I guess I was ahead of my time. Perhaps I would have been more interested in back to school time if we had the types of tech gadgets available to kids today!

I came across an article with a top 10 list of back to school gadgets. The article is about a year old, but most of the gadgets still apply today. I really like the alarm clock and I actually own a MimoBot Chewbacca USB drive. I would probably add a laptop or iPad to the list myself, but that’s just me. So go ahead and read the article and let me know what you think. If you have other ideas for back to school gadgets, let me know what they are as well!

- submitted by Nancy Slater

A: This question could be rephrased, “which smartphone besides the iPhone do you recommend?” Users who don’t have AT&T’s service (i.e. Verizon, Sprint, T-Mobile, etc.) can not yet get an iPhone, so I get questions like this quite often. However, answering this isn’t so easy. But I do have some advice for those of you pondering this thought.

The first thing to ask yourself is “do I really want an iPhone?” As mentioned above, a lot of people want an iPhone but don’t have AT&T. If they stay with their current carrier, they can’t get an iPhone so they are looking for “the next best thing.” Having lived and breathed this industry the last several years, I can honestly state there IS NO next best thing. Rather, there are “different things” out there, but none truly come close to the iPhone at this time. Some phones may look like iPhones at first glance, but looks only scratch the surface of what an iPhone is all about. If you really want an iPhone, take the time to consider if you should switch to AT&T. Don’t gloss over this point – it’s so important, let me say it again – if you really want an iPhone, you MUST consider if you should switch to AT&T. If an iPhone is really what you want and you purchase another phone you will be disappointed.

To this end, I share these observations with my clients: I’ve had many people tell me they don’t really like their various non-iPhone smartphones or are indifferent about them. They either are difficult to setup and use or they just don’t do anything that gets them excited. Almost everyone I talk to that owns an iPhone LOVES their iPhone. That speaks volumes. In fact, a recent study found that over 77% of iPhone buyers would buy another iPhone, a number that is far above any other smartphone brand. So let me state this one last time before moving on – if you want an iPhone get an iPhone or you will be disappointed.

But assuming you must get a non-iPhone smartphone, the next questions to ask yourself are 1) what do you want to do with a smartphone 2) what features are important to you 3) why are those features important to you? The answers to these questions will help determine which direction you want to go.

In my opinion, the two main players are Android (Droid) and Palm Pre, with Blackberry coming in a distant 3rd. Yes, there are also “Windows” phones, but I simply can not in good conscience recommend a Windows phone at this time. Usability issues aside, Microsoft’s mobile strategy is currently in a serious state of disarray and transition (read about the ill-fated Kin phone to get a feel for Microsoft’s troubles). The Windows phone you purchase today could be completely obsolete in a few months (beyond what I would consider “normal obsolescence).

The reason I put Blackberry in third is because for all the advances in the smartphone industry in the last few years, in my testing it seems that the Blackberry phones are still based on years-old technology. The user interface and software are still rooted in designs that made the Blackberry phones top-notch five to ten years ago – but designs that have since been leapfrogged. Once you have used an iPhone, Android, or Palm Pre phone, using a Blackberry seems cumbersome and restrictive. However, many people swear by the design of the hard-key Blackberry keyboards for heavy e-mail and texting use. It is worth testing various Blackberry phones just to see what they are like.

Android and Palm Pre phones are difficult to describe because there are so many different types of phones based on these systems that there is no single answer. Unlike the iPhone, where so far Apple has introduced only one new model every year, many different manufacturers release many different models throughout the year. So where someone can say “iPhone” and there is no question which phone they are talking about, referring to Android or Palm Pre phones must be much more specific because each model can be quite different than the next.

The best advice I have for Android and Palm Pre phones is testing the various models available on your carrier and determining which models “feel” better to you. Do you like a hard keyboard or a touchscreen better? Does a particular phone fit better in your hand? Does the interface seem intuitive and easy to use? How do the web sites you frequent look on the phone? For a device as personal as a smartphone, all the tech specs in the world really don’t matter. If the phone doesn’t “fit” you like a glove, then it’s not really going to be all that useful to you. Incidentally, this is exactly why so many love their iPhones (see the beginning of this article once again). Combined with the three questions above, getting a hands-on feel for the various models of smartphones should help you narrow down your choices.

Your question could be featured in future newsletters, so send them in now!

This month, I’d thought I would highlight a couple of apps that run on the iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch. One app I found to be very helpful and the other I found to be lots of fun. Even if you don’t own an iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch, it is worth reading about these apps so you can start to get an idea of how you could be using these devices.

One thing I have a lot of trouble with is remembering when to perform routine maintenance on my car. Oil changes are not so bad because they are frequent enough, but things like tire rotations tend to slip my mind. I’m not organized enough to keep a separate car maintenance log. However, I do have my iPhone on me almost all the time. So luckily I found out about the app Car Minder, which helps you manage all your routine maintenance needs as well as a log of repairs and gas fillips. The main feature I like about Car Minder is the fact that it will remind you ahead of time when your next maintenance is due, based on either time or mileage. All the maintenance reminders are customizable so you can modify when your next maintenances are due. Because I have my iPhone on me almost all the time, it will be a lot easier to remember to record when the car is maintained and the reminders will be very helpful. If you’re like me, I would certainly recommend giving Car Minder a try. For a few dollars you could save yourself an expensive problem with your car.

Board games are fun, but seriously, when do any of us have time to sit down to play them with our friends? Luckily, with the help of technology, now we can play virtual board games with many of our friends at any time. For example, I recently started playing the app, Words with Friends, which is basically a Scrabble game. However, rather than sitting down and playing in real-time, the game is turn-based. That means when you take a turn, the other person’s device notifies them that it is their turn. When they have a moment to take a turn, they do so and then you are notified. In this way, you or your friend don’t need to carve out a lot of time to play the game. You each just take turns when you have time and the game progresses over the course of a day or more. I think I’ve played more “Scrabble” in the last few weeks than I played in my whole life combined. There is also a Chess with Friends game that uses a similar turn-based method of play. It’s almost like the old “chess by mail”, but just a lot faster and it doesn’t require stamps.

If you use any useful or fun iPhone apps, let me know about them!

For some reason, I crack up when words are bleeped out. I don’t know why exactly, but I think I find it funnier than if the words were just left un-bleeped. Perhaps the bleeping invokes a Pavlovian response? Regardless, if you find bleeping as funny as I do, then you’ll love these commercials for the Powermat charger. What’s really bleeping funny is that the “uncensored” version simply uses the actual word “bleep”, so they were just bleeping out bleeps. Are you bleeping confused yet? Just watch the bleeping videos.

Bleeped-Out Video |  “Uncensored” Video |  Dorm-Room Version

I have written about inductive chargers before but it has been a long time since I had seen any new developments in this technology. I had begun to think that inductive charging was not going to gain significant traction in the marketplace. But that was before I discovered the Energizer Flat Panel Induction Charge System for Wii. Now here is an excellent use of inductive charging technology in a product that very much hits the mainstream user.

As with other inductive chargers, charging occurs simply by laying the device on a special induction charging pad. In this case, you simply lay the Wii controller down on the pad. There is no need to plug the controller in, take out batteries, or make sure that any contacts are touching. In simple terms, the device charges wirelessly. Besides the simple fact that wireless charging is just a really cool idea, there are a couple of highly relevant uses in regards to Wii controllers.

First, if you have little kids and own a Wii (or any other game that uses rechargeable controllers), then you know that it can be frustrating to frequently swap out and charge batteries. Small children can have trouble doing this so they must get their parents to help them. The Energizer charger is so simple that kids of any age can use it – and so can adults! Just teach your kids to lay down the controllers on the pad when they are done using them and the controllers will be fully charged by the next time they play. A red light indicates that the controller is charging. The light turns green when the controller is charged. The Energizer charger even has magnets that will ensure the controllers are lined up correctly on the pad.

Second, most Wii controllers now come with a protective silicone sleeve as a safety feature. It provides extra grip and some cushioning for the controllers. However, this sleeve is a bit of a pain when it comes to swapping batteries because you must partially remove the sleeve to get to the battery compartment. Again, if you have kids this really becomes a pain. However, because inductive charging is wireless, it works even if the Wii controller has a protective sleeve over it. Again, simply laying the controller on the pad will charge it. This also holds true if the controller has a Wii Motion Plus attachment. So simple!

The Energizer Flat Panel Induction Charge System for Wii comes in models that can charge either 2 or 4 controllers at one time. Energizer calls them the 2X or 4X models. Compared to other inductive chargers on the market, I found the prices of the Energizer chargers to be extremely reasonable. The 2X model is around $30 while the 4X model costs around $50. Because I believe most Wii owners have more than 2 controllers (or plan on it), I would recommend the 4X model in most instances. For the price, you get the induction charging pad and either 2 or 4 induction battery packs. The battery packs replace the rear battery cover and include an external button that pushes through to the internal sync button on the Wii remote. This actually makes syncing a Wii remote easier!

Please be aware that Energizer had previous induction chargers on the market. They did not receive very good reviews. However, from what I’ve read the new flat panel chargers are getting high marks. So if you are shopping around make sure you are looking for the “Flat Panel” models. It should be easy to find the Energizer Flat Panel chargers because they are sold at places like Wal-Mart and Best Buy as well as many on-line retailers. However, take note at the time of this writing it appears that Best Buy only sells the 2X model while Wal-Mart sells both the 2X and 4X models.

If you have any questions on this or any other technology gadgets, please contact me today!