Interview with AnyBots’ CEO Dr. Trevor Blackwell

AnyBots is a company that is building an innovative remote controlled robot which serves as a personal avatar. Yes, that’s right, just like the movie Avatar an operator remote controls this robot and it allows you to virtually be present in another location.

The applications for this technology are endless, but imagine a large company with multiple locations having a few AnyBots that people can “check out” and use to attend meetings with colleagues. The theory is that this is more inviting than simple video conferencing.
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Check Out the NEW GeekBeat.TV – Starring Cali Lewis!

I don’t know if you guys are all aware of this, but Cali Lewis announced the final episode of GeekBrief.TV and has moved on to another project in conjunction with top online content provider Revision 3. The new show is called GeekBeat.TV, and it’s a short format news show that will keep you up to date on all the latest info that geeks love.

Even if you’re not a geek, Cali has a way of explaining technology so that everyone can understand it! So, bottom line is, either way you should subscribe to GeekBeat.TV! :-)
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The iPad Case Finder Site Has it ALL!

Ok. Let’s say you get a new iPad. And let’s say that you look at the Apple case for it. And let’s say that you arrive at the conclusion it sucks. Normally you might break down and cry. It’s ok there big fella… let it all out!

But when you’re done, head on over to iPadCaseFinder.com and stop your blubbering! I swear to Moses, that site has every case ever made for the iPad!!!


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Jake and Amir Explain Why iPad is SO Great!

I believe that Jake and Amir accurately summarize all of the points about why I think the iPad is such a revolutionary tool. You’d be wise to heed their advice and run out and get one. Or two. BUT NOT THREE!!!

Of course, I am going to give one away soon, so you could also just try and win it

Apple Screwed Me With an iPad

While everyone else is gushing about how much they love their little shiny black and silver iPad, I’m here to tell you the dark truth behind the iPad. Yeah, that’s right, this is the stuff Apple doesn’t want you to know!

So, I ordered a couple of iPads from the Apple store online like 15 minutes after they were announced as being available. I did this so I wouldn’t have to wait in line for one, and in case they sold out. Of course when I ordered them they had a notification that you could only buy two. Fine. They also said that they wouldn’t ship them until April 12. Fine.

Fast forward 5 days. Now the Apple store has, and I quote from a phone call, “A complete contingent…” of iPads in stock. So I’m thinking I’ll just go pick up a couple. So I go online to the Apple Store and try and cancel the order for the two I have there. But guess what! NO! YOU MAY NOT CANCEL!!!

Whoa! What’s going on here?
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Review: Griffin PowerJolt Reserve iPhone Charger and Battery

I’m not sure what other people think about the Griffin 9785-PJLTRSV PowerJolt Reserve for iPhone & iPod, but I for one love it. This is a little cigarette lighter adapter for your car which allows you to plug in your standard iPhone USB charging cord to power-up your phone while on the road. But it also happens to have a built in rechargeable battery attached to it which you can either use in the car for wireless convenience – or take in your pocket for backup power when you go!

A few things you should know:

  • It’s about $40. I got mine at a local WalMart.
  • The battery connects to the charger magnetically. Yeah, it’s cool. You just grab it and pull it off. When you are done just get it near where it needs to be and the magnets pull it together.
  • You can be charging one phone with the USB while another is charging off the battery.
  • It charges an iPhone MUCH faster than other chargers in my opinion.
  • The battery will bring an iPhone 3Gs up to about 50% charge.

Here are a few closeup photos from mine. I go nowhere without it.

Stop Scraping Snow and Ice and Use A Windshield Cover

Today it’s snowing in Dallas. Rare, but it happens. Even more often we get terrible ice storms. And there is nothing worse than trying to scrape ice off the windows of a car for like half an hour when its freezing outside. So guess what… You don’t have to do that!

If you have a vehicle that you can’t park in a garage, like my big ass Nissan Titan pickup truck, you can get a Windshield Cover and just put it over your window before the storm comes. Then, no matter how much ice comes down, when you are ready to go you just pull the cover off the window and there goes the mess with no scraping!

If you’d rather not spring for a $10 cover (or these $6 disposable ones – Frosty Fender Disposable Windshield Cover) you can just take a large garbage bag and split it down the sides – leaving it attached on the bottom – then when you spread it out lengthwise it should be wide enough to cover the whole window. Same thing with a little painters dropcloth from Lowes or Home Depot. Just find some plastic sheeting and cover the window and you’ll be all set.

Camera Reviews: Canon Digital Rebel T1i SLR and Canon PowerShot G11

Canon G11I’ve had 5 different people ask me for camera recommendations, as well as a couple of other folks asking me about camcorders, in the last week alone. Because it’s just that time of the year when people want to pick up a new camera to capture the holiday cheer.

Well, I’ve got two digital camera recommendations – depending on what you are looking for – and more importantly I’ve broken down exactly why these are the two cameras that you should get. (Jump right to the pocket sized Canon G11 or the SLR sized Canon T1i)

Of course, there are a LOT of cameras on the market, and I even own a few others, but for the vast majority of users I think these are the two best all-around cameras you can get. And I intend to make some video tutorials about how to take some really great photos with these cameras in the near future. So if you get one of these specific recommendations then you’ll be able to follow along when I put out the videos.
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Review: Benro Travel Angel Tripod – The 13.1″ Wonder!

Benro Travel AngelI purchased the BENRO TRAB069 Travel Angel TRAB a couple of months ago, and all in all I highly recommend the little tripod.

This Travel Angel tripod features individual leg angle adjustments, anti-rotation leg design, a reversible center column with spring loaded weight hook, anti dust and moisture rubber leg lock grips, and reversible 1/4″-20 to 3/8″ mounting threads. It has 5 leg sections and a maximum height of 54.3″ with a normal height of 47.8″ with the legs fully extended.

However, what makes it so special is that the folded height is a tiny 13.1″ while still maintaining a load capacity of 13.2 pounds! This makes it one of the most compact travel tripods around, while still being professional grade. Oh, and at just over $210, it competes with the Gitzo GT1541T Series 1 6X 4S G-Lock Traveler which is much bigger and costs $535!
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