Pogoplug, a nifty little device that enables you to easily access your files from anywhere via the Web (see my previous post about it here) has been updated, with a second generation of the device being released. As Kevin over at jkOnTheRun reports, as well as sporting a fancier new design, the new version has three additional USB ports, making four in total, which gives you much more leeway to add storage and drives to your “personal cloud.” The product also has some new functionality, including automatic file synchronization for photos, music and movies, and global searching across multiple Pogoplugs and drives. This second-generation Pogoplug is a little more expensive, retailing at $129 compared to the original’s $99, and is now available to pre-order (to ship mid-December) via the Pogoplug web site.
Do you have a Pogoplug? Let u know what you think of the device in the comments.
In an effort to curtail my disastrous gadget spending habits, I’ve decided to take a look at devices I’ve purchased with the stated intent of increasing my productivity, to see if intentions and reality reflect each other at all. Today, I’m turning my critical gaze on my netbook, which I picked up just over half a year ago.
My particular netbook is the Asus Eee PC 1000HE, but the model doesn’t really matter. It’s a light device with a 10-inch screen, a small keyboard and an all-day eight hour battery. When I bought it, it was freshly released, and was generating quite a bit of buzz among the mobile computing crowd. One of the first things I did with the Eee PC was to install the Windows 7 beta, and it’s still running the release candidate today. Read the rest of this entry »
I’m one of those fanatics who goes out before dawn on the day after Thanksgiving, to wait in line for the doors of my favorite stores to open so I can snap up the best deals before they are gone. It sounds really crazy, until you see my receipts and calculate how much money I’m saving for my effort. Read the rest of this entry »
Here in the UK, we use very bulky three-pin earthed electric plugs for our 240V AC system. In normal domestic use, these plugs are satisfyingly chunky and solid, but if you need to go on the road, not only do they take up a much larger amount of space in your bag than European or U.S. plugs (particularly if you have more than one), if not well packed they can end up damaging your precious gadgets.
So when I saw this video of a concept design for an innovative folding three-pin plug, I was astounded. Not only does the clever folding design save space in your bag and keep the pins from damaging your electronics, the folded plug can then be used to save space in multi-outlet wall adapters. I really hope that it can pass the various safety checks and makes it into production — I would happily pay a premium for it.
Apple has recently been getting a lot of attention from the online press and tech enthusiasts for something that it really should’ve done a long time ago. The company replaced its standard issue Mighty Mouse with the new Magic Mouse, a completely new design which features touch sensitivity in addition to standard mouse functionality.
It took a while, but I finally found one in stock at an Apple retail store, and I’ve spent the past couple days using it as my primary mouse. How well suited is it to web work? I suppose that depends on your work environment, but it won’t be replacing my usual desktop mouse anytime soon, and I’ll tell you why. Read the rest of this entry »
I’ve finally got computer glasses, after years of gradually increasing difficulty focusing at mid-range between distance and close-up vision. My optometrist first suggested bifocals back in ‘02, but I resisted. In hindsight, this was not my wisest decision. My reasoning wasn’t vanity; I was getting along reasonably happily with single vision lenses, and didn’t want to complicate my life.
However, difficulty reading my computer screen went critical last spring when I downsized from a 17″ PowerBook to a 13″ unibody MacBook. I love the MacBook’s bright, sharp LED backlit display, but it’s smaller both in resolution and physical dimensions than my old machine. Happily, the computer glasses make reading the new display easier, clearer and more squint- and strain-free than the 17″ display with my old glasses. As expected, I find it tedious to have to switch spectacles when I’m not at the computer or reading, but having just turned 58, I guess making some concession to age is inevitable. Read the rest of this entry »
If you are a serious photographer, one of the things you live (or work) most in fear of is of losing a whole session of shots before you are able to properly back them up. This can happen in many ways: equipment loss, memory card failure, accidental erasure, or theft. But as with everything digital, there’s a gadget that can help solve that problem — if you are willing to pay the price.
That gadget is the Epson P6000, and even if you aren’t a photographer, it comes with some features that may be of use to you if you need to carry media with you or do presentations on the fly. Read the rest of this entry »
Over at jkOntheRun, Kevin has published an excellent post called “7 Rules of the Road for Maximum Mobile Bliss.” In it, he shares some maxims for getting the most out of your gadgets while on the road. His “mobile mantras” include:
Always buy a second battery for your main device
Carry a toolkit for drive restores
Have a backup plan for wireless connectivity
When not in use, turn off the juice
Invest in a useful web-based data storage and synchronization service (or provide your own)
Consider using the “lightest” tool for the task at hand
Tote a headset
Most web workers are on the road for at least some of the time, so go check out Kevin’s post and make sure you maximize your mobile productivity.
Share your tips for getting the most from your gadgets on the go below.
Pogoplug, a nifty little device that enables you to easily access your files from anywhere via the Web (see my previous post about it here) has been updated, with a second generation of the device being released. As Kevin over at jkOnTheRun reports, as well as sporting a fancier new design, the new version has three additional USB ports, making four in total, which gives you much more leeway to add storage and drives to your “personal cloud.” The product also has some new functionality, including automatic file synchronization for photos, music and movies, and global searching across multiple Pogoplugs and drives. This second-generation Pogoplug is a little more expensive, retailing at $129 compared to the original’s $99, and is now available to pre-order (to ship mid-December) via the Pogoplug web site.
In an effort to curtail my disastrous gadget spending habits, I’ve decided to take a look at devices I’ve purchased with the stated intent of increasing my productivity, to see if intentions and reality reflect each other at all. Today, I’m turning my critical gaze on my netbook, which I picked up just over half a year ago.
Apple has recently been getting a lot of attention from the online press and tech enthusiasts for something that it really should’ve done a long time ago. The company replaced its standard issue Mighty Mouse with the 
Web Work 101: How To Escape The Cubicle
