Author : Gregg Ellman

By Gregg Ellman
@greggellman
Ease of set up and ease of use are the first things I look for in any shared network devices and you get that with the Iomega EZ Media and Backup Center.

Plug a network connection in the back of the unit and after a simple online setup anyone on the wireless network  can simultaneously share just about any digital content on multiple computers, tablets, smartphones or network-connected TV’s .

When you combine the network device with the free Iomega Link app, you can create an Iomega personal cloud to view the content from just about anywhere when connected to the Internet.

The personal cloud also lets you invite others (up to 250 members) to have access to the content in your cloud. This includes movies, music, photos or even documents all available from anywhere 365/24/7.

You’ll be hard pressed to find a device that isn’t user friendly to the media center and its cloud storage. This includes Mac and Windows systems along with all Apple and Android smartphones and tablets

The EZ Media and Backup Center is available in 1, 2 or 3TB options for $189.99, $229.99 and $319.99 respectively.

For a reference, each terabyte can hold as many as 250,000 songs, 400,000 photos, 385 hours of video or 120 hours of  HD video. The exact number can vary by the individual size of each file, but you get the idea: they hold a lot.

Iomega also put an iTunes server in the media center allowing you to but a song or video once from iTunes and then share the content with multiple devices.

www.iomega.com

Logitech’s latest and greatest addition to their web cam lineup is the Logitech TV Cam HD.

The high-definition camera works with your TV’s HDMI input but is packed with features to produce an incredibly clear image with great sound for those you are connecting with.

The lens is built with optics from German optics specialist Carl Zeiss, the same optics built into many high-end products in the professional photography world.

Along with the optics, Logitech’s Fluid Crystal Technology  and four noise-canceling microphones let you send the best possible picture and sound across the web.

The lens can pan, tilt or zoom on your subject and is built with an ultra wide-angle view enabling users to get more then one person in view.

Skype (Internet voice/video calling program) and Wi-Fi are built into the camera so you can connect to the web computer free.

All you need is a Skype account, Internet connection and a minimal setup to talk to anyone around the world and have them see you on the screen in ultra wide-angle 720p .

The camera also has a ringer, to alert you for calls coming in.

www.logitech.com $199

It might be hard to envision charging stations that are “cool” but after you see the IDAPT universal chargers you can see why they fall in that category.

With the i4 Universal Charger, the compatibility has it working with over 4,500 of today’s portable electronic gadgets including gaming, GPS, digital cameras and cellular devices.

The main parts of the product consist of a single power cord and a base station. Then you plug in the interchangeable charging tips for your device, with up to three tips being able to charge devices at once.

An additional device can be charged with the USB port on the side of the base.

The i4 default pack ($64.99) I had for testing came with mirco and miniUSB, Sony Ericsson 2, Samsung 4, Nokia 2 and the coveted Apple 30-pin connection.

If these aren’t the charing connections you need, additional tips can be purchased including charging for AA and AAA batteries or a custom 4-pack kit with a charging base in a choice of multiple colors.

Each pin snaps in and out as needed, making it versatile for the gadgets of today’s families or even a small business.

The IDAPT i1Eco charging system ($32.99) allows you to charge two devices at once, one with a  charging tip and the other through the USB port.

This one is way more travel-friendly since the base can be powered from an AC or DC connection (both choices included).

The default pack has the pair of USB connections and an Apple 30-pin connection but a custom pack can also be created with a pair of tips.

Most single tips cost about $9.99 except the AA/AAA battery tip for $19.99

www.idaptweb.com

Contact Gregg Ellman at greggellman@mac.com.
Follow him on Twitter: @greggellman.
2012, Gregg Ellman.

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By Gregg Ellman
@greggellman
During a little summer cleaning I found a lot of plain and ordinary but very useful products including the Quirky Crate modular storage system.

It doesn’t have a USB connection or need any power, RAM or memory but after I saw how great they stored piles of my electronic gadgets I knew it was a good thing to write about.

It’s designed to emulate a stack of milk crates like I had in my dorm room long ago. The crates are  stackable, attachable or can combine with drawers or even seat cushions.

Quirky has 10 add-on-accessories (as of now), which attach to any of the 25 holes on the sides and back of the crate to attach cord management for headphones, legs, cork boards or just hooks.

It’s simple but innovative and if you have just one percent of what I have, you’ll find it handy.

www.quirky.com/crate $19.99 for the crate, accessories range from $5.99 to $29.99

The Urbanears Zinken over-the-ear-styled headphones feature great sound and are fashionable by today’s standards.

They are collapsible when not in use and feature 40mm dual-diaphragm drivers, which sounds really good and the comfortable ear cushion helps keep out ambient noise.

Since they are DJ-styled, they include a TurnCable, which has a standard 3.5mm plug on one end and a 6.3mm plug for use with a mixer on the other.

The fashion part of the headphones are made with a matte finish and with the color choice including grape, indigo, pumpkin and tomato you can see the fashion angle incorporated.

www.urbanears.com/headphones/zinken $140

The iLuv compact Bluetooth Keyboard is marketed as a partner for the iPad but it will work just fine with any Bluetooth device needing a keyboard, although it does have dedicated keys for some iPad functions.

It’s powered by two AAA batteries (not included) and measures just 9.8 x 4.8 x 6 inches, making it an ideal accessory for travel or just the day-to-day portability of a backpack.

Aside from the letters and numbers, it has shift keys on both sides and it works great.

www.iLuv.com $56.99

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By Gregg Ellman @greggellman When I got an email announcing the new General Imaging ipico, which is referred to in the message as “a sleek hand-held projector for iPhone or iPod touch,” I was skeptical about how well it would work. After using if for a few seconds my opinion was that this is a […]

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By Gregg Ellman
@greggellman

I’m a big fan of multi-functional gadgets and there’s no question that the iLuv SmashBox Pro (iSP123) fits this category.

It’s a portable speaker and smartphone case built into a protective case, which includes a built-in microphone enabling it to be a hands-free speakerphone. In addition it has controls for some functions, depending on the device including volume and power.

Your device sits in the case and is attached to the system through the 3.5mm headphone port. A pair of AA batteries (not included) power the speakers.

It’s not pocket sized (6.3 in. x 4 in. x 2-inches) but it does come with an carabiner attachment and Velcro attachments for added portability.

As for the sound, I was impressed with the quality and found it to be a nice innovative product to the saturated smartphone accessory market.

In addition, iLuv has new earphones called FitActive (iEP416), which are described as “secure fit hands-free sports Earphones with SpeakEZ Remote” on the back of the box.

What this means to you is that they stay in your ears during the most active of activities and the microphone lets you stay hands free.

www.iLuv.com $19 for the speaker, $26.99 for the earphones both at Amazon

The Ego Hybrid USB Case claims to be the world’s first iPhone case with a built-in and removable USB drive and I’ll just take their word for it.

It’s available in 4, 8 or 16GB in 36 color combinations if you mix and match the color of the case and drive, including sky blue, pink, yellow, light green, red or black choices.

The drive is on the bottom of the backside of the case, and slides in and out easily but clips into place for easy storage.

As for the case, it’s your typical hard shell case with access to all the device’s ports and buttons. What makes the case stand out is the USB storage, which does not add extra storage to the phone itself.

www.egoncompany.com $34.95 (4GB), $39.95 (8GB) and $49.95 (16GB)

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By Gregg Ellman
@greggellman
The custom SLR Glide strap system makes it easy to carry the bigger and bulkier digital cameras comfortably.

What makes it a system instead of just a camera strap is that it can be customized for any users style or type of gear. This includes a small SLR with a simple wide angle lens all the up to high-end category with longer telephoto lenses.

The main ingredient in the system is the Camera Slip Strap ($28.95), which is adjustable to any length, won’t slide off your shoulder but most importantly is padded for comport when worn around your shoulder or neck.

Every camera has a threaded socket on the bottom of your camera and that’s where the system’s accessories attach.

The M-Plate Pro ($74.95) Universal Tripod Plate System has a rubber gasket on the backside where it will face your camera to keep it scratch-free when it’s attached.

The company describes it at a universal camera tripod system and does work with specific manufactures listed on their website.

Now add the C-Loop attachment ($39.95) to the M-Plate or just to the tripod thread itself to attach a strap to make your camera easily accessible from your waist that keeps the strap out of the way while shooting.

There is also the M-Plate hand strap attachment ($12.95) if handheld is your choice.

The system as a whole worked great during a recent weekend of car race photography. It’s built well to work flawlessly and keep your camera scratch-free, which many other accessories do not.

www.customslr.com

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By Gregg Ellman
@greggellman

Zagg’s new privacy screen film for the Apple iPhone 4/4S keeps your phone to yourself, away from neighboring eyes.

The razor-thin film features what they call a four-way privacy filter that prevents prying eyes directly next to you on planes, trains or automobiles from seeing your screen.

Applying the film is simple but in the event you mess it up, you can lift it up, reposition and re-apply.

After I applied it to my 4S, it obviously dimmed the screen, but after turning up the brightness about 20 percent everything was readable.

Many Apple purists refuse such protection but it’s great for keeping your device clean and scratch-free.

Currently it’s only available for the new iPhone models but keep checking the Zagg site for updates on other devices.

www.Zagg.com $24.99

Canon’s new Wi-Fi enabled and compact SELPHY CP900 makes printing simple from hand-held devices or computers sharing the same network.

With the Canon Easy-PhotoPrint mobile app, compatible Android or Apple iOS devices (smartphones or tablets) can print wireless to the printers.

Minor adjustments such as brightness correction, sharpness and contrast control can be made on the images, which can be printed on 4×6 paper as quickly as 47 seconds.

The printer works on standard AC power but an optional battery can be purchased ($79.99) for printing on the go.

If you purchase the battery pack and combine that with the built-in card reader (SD//SDHC/SHXC) and it’s 2.7-inch LCD screen, prints can be made from just about anywhere. PictBridge printing can also be done.

A set of paper and ink for 108 prints is $34.99 or for 36 prints $14.99.

www.USA.Canon.com $99.99

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By Gregg Ellman
@greggellman

Western Digital (WD) has launched a handy home networking product with its Fastrack technology that let’s you choose specifically who and what gets priority for speed when multiple users are on the same network.

This includes narrowing it to specific devices such gaming consoles, smartphones, tablets, computers or any device sharing the Wi-Fi.

With the WD exclusive technology the new wireless N routers will  “intelligently and automatically prioritizes Internet favorites like Netflix, Hulu Plus, VUDU, YouTube, Xbox LIVE, Skype and others, to create a smooth streaming experience in up to Full-HD 1080p quality,” as stated in a recent press release.

On a recent call, WD representatives stressed that advance settings even let you choose specific websites for priority to maximize bandwidth for faster speeds based on who in the family needs it for work or just for fun.

They said that it will be an easy setup for wireless and wired devices, taking just minutes and includes parental control settings on a friendly and intuitive user interface.

The new routers have speeds up to 900 Mbps and choices that include internal storage (up to 2 TB) for a centralized backup and automatic wireless backup, which is accessible for all the computers on the network that essentially creates a personal cloud.

http://wdstore.com pricing starts at $69.99 for the My Net Switch or up to $349.99 for the My Net N900

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