Jackery Mini External Battery Will Charge Up Your Smart Phone

For all the smart phones in the market today with the fantastic features, one would think they could improve the battery life on 4G LTE phones to last more than the approximate work day life. When I say approximately, because the battery life varies widely from smart phone to smart phone manufacturers. Even for the same phone, such as the iPhone 5 or Galaxy S3, people report difference battery life, so things are not that consistent. For smart phone owners, having to charge up your phone in the middle of the day to make it through until you get home is not what is needed. Having an all day battery life is what we want and need as a minimum, but today's smart phones have not been able to consistently provide that.

That is not going to happen until some new battery technology emerges to address this problem. In the mean time, you need to carry a spare battery, but with the exposed connectors, that is not a good idea. A better one is to carry an external battery which can charge up your smart phone. The Jackery Mini from Jackery does not have a solution for battery life, but they provide confidence by providing a product which can re-charge your smart phone when you are away from being able to charge it up. The Jackery Mini is about the size of a lipstick case, so it is very tiny and easily portable. But, having an external battery with you to charge up your smart phone can be considered "priceless".

The Jackery Mini external battery provides you with enough power to completely charge up your iPhone 5 or Galaxy S3. And since those are the top 2 popular phones right now, that says a lot about what the Mini will do for you. It is only 3.7 inches long, 0.9 inches wide and 0.8 inches high, so it will not take up much space. And it weighs in at 2.72 ounces. Coming in orange or silver, the Mini has a 2600 mAh battery packed inside. The company claims that the Mini battery charge will last up to 6 months in stand by mode, waiting for you to tap into because of their unique power lock technology. That is impressive.

The Jackery Mini comes with 4 LED indicators on it which let you know what the level of charge remaining on the external battery is. Given the small size of the Jackery Mini as an external battery and its ability to recharge your smart phone, this is definitely one of those things which you should always have with you to provide some peace of mind. If you have ever received a low battery indication on your smart phone and are not near a power source, this is a must have.

The suggest price of $29.95 is easily found at Amazon, though the only color available is orange. The silver is not found at Amazon. If you have ever found yourself with a low battery and no power source available to charge your phone up, take a look at the Jackery Mini.

The Future Of Phone Tablet Versus Tablet Phone

If you are like many, it does appear that mobile devices have been changing a lot for the past few years. And the features of tablets seem to be coming to smart phones. You only have to look at the ever increasing screen sizes to see the growing real estate becoming available as a result. The Samsung Galaxy S3 with its 4.8 inch screen was seen as something which was deemed too large for a smart phone. But, if you have had the pleasure of using one, you quickly come to appreciate that space. And the resulting sales prove that people want to have a smart phone with a large screen. You if you have not used one with a larger screen, take the time to take a look at one.

And over the past few months, we have been seeing that a 5 inch screen has become the new standard for smart phones. If you do not currently have a smart phone with a screen of 4.5 or greater, you soon will. The rumors for the iPhone 5 have it coming in at 4.8 inches in size. The coming Galaxy S4 is rumored to be coming in at 5 inches and matches so many other phones coming out right now. This increasing screen size does make the phones more difficult to just slip into your pocket. With screen sizes above 4.5 inches, we are looking at features of tablets coming to smart phones. Some comes with a stylus and software to do drawing. That is where things appear to be headed for phone tablets.

On the other side, we have been seeing tablets being reduced in size to less than 7 inches as they size down to fill a space in the market. The first one to really do this is the Galaxy Note with a screen size of 5.3 inches. And with all the promotion for what Samsung called a phablet, it has done remarkably well in sales. The follow on is the Galaxy Note II with a screen size of 5.5 inches. This is creating a situation where you have tablet phone. The features of a tablet with the features of a phone being added to it.

The features of a phone are now being included in what has previously been strictly a tablet and had no characteristics for using one as a phone. That is changing and blurring the lines between whether devices in the 4.5 inch to 6.5 inch screen size are to be considered a phone tablet or a tablet phone. Either way that you look at it, it is creating some confusion as to what category a phone or tablet falls into when they are that size and the included features.

With all of this going on where companies are releasing tablets or phones which are in this gray area, Asus has taken a far different approach. They have released both a phone and a tablet calling it the FonePad, though some are calling it the PadFone. They are looking to capture both the phone interests and tablet interests at the same time. The difference is that it is really two devices. To use it as a smart phone, you remove it from the dock on the tablet. To use it as a tablet, you put the phone back into the dock to turn it into a tablet.

Strange device, but it does point out the confusion of whether we are looking at phone tablets or tablet phones. Is this the future we are going to be seeing?

Firefox Mobile OS Coming To Crowded Field

In the world of mobile devices, there are a number of operating systems which drive the mobile phones and tablets. The biggest ones are Apple's iOS and Google's Android in the market. Along with a number of other players, it seems that things are fairly diverse in the products that are available and manufacturers are choosing to supply with their mobile devices. With all the competition, you would think that we are seeing mobile OS software which meets the needs of the market. And you would be wrong.

This month, we talked about Ubuntu as a mobile OS and how they are preparing to supply their Linux version to smart phones and tablets. And now, we are hearing that Mozilla is coming with the Firefox Mobile OS to the market some time this year. So, we now have 2 new mobile OS products showing up this year. That creates an interesting challenge to break into the market given the strength of the existing mobile OS software.

And with the Firefox Mobile OS, early testing by some has indicated that it does not perform as well as it should. But, it has just been announced, so we are not surprised that issues have been found and there is plenty of time to get them resolved. One of the strengths for the Firefox OS is that it is being written from the ground up as a brand new product. And it is based on HTML5 using the current standards of the day, so all the code is based on web standards. This may be exactly what they need to drive the phones and tablets for today and the future.

Adding to the discussions is the fact that there are 18 wireless carriers to the platform. Not that we are going to see new phones showing up in the next few months, but they are coming. Since it certainly looks like this is going after a different market than others, we expect to see most of the sales of mobile device using the Firefox OS to be in countries where the people purchasing phones are concerned about price. And with that idea, they are going after the lower end of the market to start and grow from there.

With the release of the Firefox OS by the middle of the year, it is not going to be arriving any time soon in the US. The current estimates are for some time in 2014 to arrive here on mobile phones and tablets. The US market is dominated by Apple and Google right now and that dominance may not be the best thing for consumers. With the announcement of the Firefox Mobile OS, it will be one to watch over the next year as to whether they are able to grab enough of the market share to become a threat to Google.

Android OS Coming To HP Slate 7, Not Windows 8 RT

If you remember HP's last tablet with webOS (TouchPad), it was something which was short lived and ended up with a fire sale which wiped out the supply very quickly. So, for HP's next tablet offering, one would assume that HP was going to be offering Windows 8 RT on their tablet. A logical expectation given that webOS had been moved to the Open Source arena and not part of HP's future plans. Rumors abound as to what is going to happen to webOS, but for now, the question of tablets for HP remains. But, the expected OS for HP's tablet is not Windows 8 RT, but rather Android.

That's right, Android on their latest 7 inch tablet, the Slate 7. They are bringing their new tablet into the very competitive 7 inch market space. The competition is much greater since Apple came out with the iPad Mini. It seems that things are getting very crowded and prices are being pushed downward. The Slate 7 will retail for $169 and undercuts the iPad Mini at $329. But the decision to enter at a much lower price point is not an easy one to make. And in so making it, they have to reduce costs so that it was affordable. Other than reducing some of the hardware components, the only thing left is the OS by moving to Google's Android. By taking Microsoft out of the picture and reducing some hardware components, they were able to drop the price down to where it is at.

By selecting Android, HP has found an easy to leverage OS to work on the Slate 7 and is easier for them to make changes to it. Much like the Android OS for smart phones, HP can add on their parts to the OS and make it theirs. And with the popularity of Jelly Bean (Android 4.2), there is a known interface that many are familiar with. Along with the Google name behind it, HP has partnered with a popular OS.

The question one has to wonder is whether HP is not happy that Microsoft has entered the hardware market. Given that HP has been struggling with retail sales for the past few years, making a cheaper product which has brand recognition may well help sales. And by bundling Android with their Slate 7, they have added more brand recognition to the product. For Microsoft, this is going to be another indication of their struggling tablet OS.



Microsoft is going to start feeling pressure with HP's decision and may cause some to think about other tablets not including the Surface Pro which they are heavily promoting. For HP, the decision to move to Android for their coming Slate 7 is going to make them stand out as being different from the Microsoft crowd and may be just enough to spur some additional sales to their latest tablet.


Given the lower price for the Slate 7, is this going to be one you might purchase?

Apple Patent Filing Shows Smartwatch With Wrap Around Screen

The idea of smartwatches has become a big topic this year and is continuing to grow. Much of the discussion this year has come about because of the Pebble watch which was presented at CES this year in Ls Vegas. And that unveiling has created a lot of coverage from so many about what the Pebble was going to provide with the Bluetooth integration with your smartphone. For us, the bigger question is Will SmartWatches Make Watches Popular Again?. Watches have fallen out of favor because your smartphone has a watch on the screen available at all time to review.

But, with the revelation of Apple's iWatch Patent Filing (20130044215) from August 17, 2011 and approval, we are entering another period of discussions about smartwatches. What makes the iWatch patent filing so different is that it is a wrap around design indicating that the screen will be continuous around the wrist. We have not seen anything like that previously being talked about. And this is a patent filing from 2011, so this is not what may come to market, but rather a conceptual design. Apple has done another great job of trying to predict what the future may hold.

The idea of a flexible smartphone screen is expected to arrive this year and resulting in some great looking and functioning smartphones. Samsung has already shown prototypes of things to come. Translating the idea of a smartwatch which can worn around your wrist is not a stretch and will be seen this year. But, a wrap around screen has not been discussed in the past few months, so the iWatch is going to alter what can be possible this year. And we are already starting to see mock ups of the iWatch showing a series of small screens strung together on the band.

All of this is going to lead to competition for the smartwatch market between Apple and Samsung which is always a good thing for consumers. Whether a completely wrap around display arrives remains to be seen. But we will be seeing smartwatches which have multitouch screens. Yes, we expected to see them with 2 or 3 small square panels to provide a number of features and functions. The most notable with be the ability to connect to your smartphone via Bluetooth and let you know who is calling or information about the latest email or text.

As with any technology device interaction, there is the issue of providing power. And smartwatches are not going to be any different in that area. Apple's patent filing shows the idea of solar panels on the watch to attempt to supplement the battery. The bottom line is that a smartwatch is going to have to be recharged. Just how often you will have to recharge it is an unknown and too early to have any information as to potential usage between charges. This is going to be the one big item to indicate sales. If your smartphone can make it through the day before charging, that is OK. The same cannot be said for a smartwatch.

Waiting for smartwatches to arrive.

Scandock: A Non-PC Scanner For A Mobile World

KickStart Friday - A Scanner for your smart phone with Scandock

If you have worked with scanners over the years, you understand the nature of connecting them up to a PC. And the issues with getting the configuration set up so that things worked as expected to make a copy of a document can be a challenge. Once your scanned document was on your PC, you could use other tools to work with your copy. But in today's world, everything has become so mobile and hooking up a scanner to your mobile devices is not something you can do. Sure there are scanners which have computer functions in them which can scan you document, but you still have to send that to your computer to work with them. Something for the mobile world is what we need.

That is where Scandock comes in and is a recently funded KickStarter project. They are promoting this as the post-PC scanner, but it is really a non-PC scanner. It does not require a computer, unless you look at your smart phone and see that as a computer. The Scandock unit has a place for you to place your iPhone or Android smart phone into and that becomes the scanner engine. With the Scandock app, your phone has everything it needs to perform the scanning operation. The smartphone technology has improved the megapixels on your smart phone so that it can take a high resolution picture and obtain a great starting pointing for document capture.

And that capture is showing great color capture as well. With the specially designed ScanDock scanner, you get LED lightning which adds to the process by providing light across the entire surface. None of the surface of the unit is going to reflect light or create glare. Once you have your scanned document on your smart phone, you can move it to the web or print it to an AirPrint printer. These are printers attached to a Wifi network. Technology has come together to provide for a great way to move away from the old fashion scanners to a new way of doing things in our mobile world.

While the Scandock scanner looks to be the big value, it is actually the Scandock app which they are going to be providing which has all the power. With that, you can take your phone with you and actually do a scan of a document. The difference is going to be in the quality of the scanned image. The Scandock device has a color bar on the unit which the app uses to perform enhancements on the scan and make it visually much better. You will not get that feature when just using your smart phone to scan something.

We have noticed an earlier version of a ScanDock from as early as 2009 which looks like the early stages of the product, but from Kyle A Koch. We have to assume that he is either part of the new version or sold the rights to this for what we are currently seeing. This was a cardboard version for the iPhone.

While the Scandock is designed to work with the iPhone, there are limited Android devices which they have tested with. Those include the Galaxy S3, Galaxy Note II, Galaxy Note and HTC One X. That leaves a huge number of Android phones in question as to whether they will work with the Scandock. The Scandock scanner is planned for a release in April this year and pricing for pre-orders looks to be $480.

Is An Ubuntu Tablet In Your Future?

Ubuntu is well known as being Open Source software which you can download and install on a computer. And for those who have worked with it, there is an appreciation for just how well it works. And given the experience on the desktop, anything done on a tablet is going to have the same ease to work with along with some fairly advanced features for those who using it.

Canonical, the parent company for Ubuntu is announcing Ubuntu for the tablet. And with that comes a number of claims for the OS they will be delivering. We are getting a preview on what you can expect to see when the Ubuntu OS is shipping on tablets. And some of those things include merging of the smart phone, tablet and desktop into something which seems to be seamless. While this will be shipping on hardware later this year, you still may be able to start experiencing what it can do for you this month. It can run right now on selected Android hardware like the Nexus Tablet. But this is not for the faint of heart. Head on over to the developers site and take a look for yourself.

You can see a number of great features on their site, but one of the interesting ones is the claims regarding convergence between the Ubuntu tablet being a full PC and claims of being able to access Windows apps with a thin client. By having the exact same OS running on the Ubuntu phone, Ubuntu PC and Ubuntu TV, you get a single platform to run everything. This is what Microsoft is trying to do with Windows 8 and has some successes and some not so successful. Given what Ubuntu has done over the past few years in delivering their computer OS, they may well be in a better position to accomplish this.

In the video below, they demonstrate the ability to show things from your Ubuntu phone in a side panel of the tablet. Or the capability to take your tablet, attach a keyboard and mouse to turn it into a computer. Seems pretty impressive if they can deliver. We talked previously about coming smartphones using the Ubuntu OS to drive them. With coming tablets based on the Ubuntu OS, it looks like there is an organized challenge to Google. And that challenge is going be a big uphill battle to take away market share from Google's Android OS.

Ubuntu is working to provide for a comprehensive package by providing Ubuntu for the smartphone, Ubuntu for the tablet and Ubuntu TV. There is even Ubuntu for Android where they promote Ubuntu as being able to run on existing Android devices as we have already talked about. And it may be that simplicity and multiple platforms which will give them the inroads to convince people to give Ubuntu a try on either their smartphones or tablets.

If you have ever worked with Ubuntu as a desktop OS or even as a server OS, you know how easy they have made things to install and work with. If they carry that forward to the tablets, they are going to make life difficult for Google. Is an Ubuntu tablet something which you are will to consider?

Gigabit WiFi Coming For Increased Speed In 2013

Using WiFi as an access method to the Web has been a common and accept access point for millions of people. With smartphones, having WiFi access instead of using your 3G or 4G LTE connection for downloading saves on the potential overage charges as you exceed your data plans. At the moment, the speeds we are seeing over WiFi are adequate as they have become saturated over the years due to the explosion of technology taking advantage of the bandwidth. So, any coming changes which will remove the bottlenecks and significantly increase speed is something we can all get behind. And that change is Gigabit WiFi.

The current speeds that we are seeing for 802.11g is 54 Mbps and 802.11n is 150 Mbps with 802.11n being the current standard coming with all new devices capable of WiFi connectivity. These are the accepted theoretical values for delivering content for a WiFi device. We do not see that for a various reasons even when standing next to the WiFi device. What is currently in the works and is expected to be available this year is Gigabit WiFi for newer devices. This is to provide for up to 1.3 Gbps throughput, though this is the theoretical maximum and we are not going to be seeing a number that high. But even if you only get to see half that number with your mobile device, it is a huge improvement over 802.11n. This is to be called 802.11ac which will give those mobile devices with the necessary chips the speed necessary to move data far faster than today and may be at 1 Gbps speeds getting devices to see rapid screen displays and file downloads.

With anything having to do with technology, such as WiFi, there is an organizational body which rules over them and that is the case with the 802.11 standards which WiFi falls under. The 802.11 standards are ruled over by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) here in the US. And while this will be approved soon, many companies are preparing WiFi devices based on what the adopted standard is expected to be. WiFi devices based on 802.11ac are coming from companies like NetGear, D-Link and Cisco/LinkSys.

In order to achieve these much higher speeds for WiFi, they are leveraging something called Quadrature amplitude modulation. With this methodology, each stream of data can deliver up to 433 Mbps. That is less than the theoretical 1.3 Gbps and makes one wonder why there is a difference. Since they are delivering a stream of data, then what if they could deliver multiple streams of data which when added together provide for much higher performance? That is exactly how they are going to achieve much higher speeds in delivering things over WiFi.

There are going to be WiFi devices which will be able to handle 3 streams of data giving you the expected great delivery of information. And future 802.11 standards will expand the number of streams of data giving us even faster speeds over WiFi. While we have should have Gigibit WiFi approved by the FCC in the next few months and the associated bandwidth, others are starting to work on the next standard coming which is 802.11an with theoretical speeds of up to 7 Gbps. The future for WiFi performance is looking bright.

John Deere Robotic Lawnmower Frees Your Time

We have seen a number of products which are classified as robots that do the mundane tasks that we have to take care as part of day to day life. The big one that everyone is familiar with is the Robotic Vacuum which is pretty popular as robots go. We have seen robots that will wash your windows for you as well. These items have defined boundaries to work within so they know where they are as they find the edges of the room or window. But what happens as items now move to the outdoors to help with some of the tasks.

The John Deere Autonomous Mower is a robotic mower which can travel through the grass and mow your lawn while you are off doing something else with your time. All these types of robotic items are designed to free your time up. So, when a robot mower is outdoors, there still has to be boundaries to be defined so that it does not try and escape from your property. So the robotic John Deere mower has boundary wires which have to be installed prior to using it and this idea is part of all robotic lawnmowers on the market. These are nothing more than sensors which the robotic computer senses and keeps track of to determine how and where it is able to go.

This particular model in the picture is the Tango E5 from John Deere and is design to handle a yard of up to 1,800 square meters (about 19,300 square feet). It is powered by a 2600 mAh lithium battery outputting at 36 volts and should provide for operation for about an hour on a full charge. The one drawback is there is no bag attachment to collect the cut grass. This one covers a decent amount of space, but there are smaller and larger models along with other companies providing robotic lawnmowers. Contact an authorized John Deere dealer for pricing.

An example of another company providing robotic mowers is Honda. The Honda Mimo is another of the robotic lawnmowers from a big name company. They will have the Mimo in 2 sizes, one the 300 and the other the 500. Pricing is estimated at $2600 and $3000. Another well known company is Bosch and their Indego robotic mower. These are the higher end products and available in Europe. A lessor known brand name is the Robomow robotic lawnmower and is available in the US through Sears with starting prices less than $2000.

Some consider these to be statements about your attitude towards mowing the lawn. But, they are a sign of coming robotic technology which will be doing more of our work activities in the future. We can expect to see pricing on these move downward if they become very popular.

Would you consider getting a robotic lawnmower?

VGo Robots Provide Real World Usage

We know that robots will be the future for mankind and we all hope that it will be for the positive in the years to come. The question is how can robots be used today for more than the things like the robot vacuum cleaner or for games. The key to their success and general acceptance is going to be how they are perceived when in use. There are too many movies which predict a dark future as robots take over the world. But, there are some very positive examples today.

If you were watching the NFL playoffs, you were more than likely exposed to a real world example in use today. The commercial which was shown is included below for your reference. The VGO Telepresence Robot weighs about 18 pounds and rolls on wheels which can be controlled by the student at home. In what could be considered as not a big deal is huge for the students who are at home and cannot attend school. Yet, these robots with their camera, speaker and listening ability, is the next best things to the student actually being in the classroom.

There is a student in New York who cannot attend school because of very severe allergies which keep Devon Carrow out of school. Being in 2nd grade, he needs to be attending school for his education, but cannot. If it were not for the VGo telepresence robot, he would not be able to attend school remotely and complete his education. Just like in the video, he can participate in class and share with his classmates. Before the introduction of the VGo, he would not be able to attend school at all. Home school would have been the only option. There are more than 20 students in the US using the VGo robots.

In another example of the VGo, a doctor made a decision after talking with a patient 260 miles away. This is the best solution where small hospitals do not have a lot of doctors and can get a specialist to look at a patient without physically being in the room with them. The robots may be a great tool to check on patients without having to leave where you are at. Observations of people after surgery will provide for better coverage in hospitals.

The things where a VGo robot can be used are not all that limited. Other than it cannot open doors or climb stairs, its value is important. Another example is of an aging relative who could not travel across the country to participate in a wedding. But with the VGo, she was able to join into the festivities and participate with everyone having a great experience. Think of this as Skype on wheels.

Right now, the VGo Telepresence Robots start at $5,995 along with a service contract which is listed at $100 per month. May seem steep, but it provides someone to continue something important like an education. The included battery will last about 6 hours on a single charge. For another $195, you can get a battery that provides power for 12 hours and adds 5 pounds to the VGO. This is just one of several companies in the market providing robots as a way to keep people connected and one that we can expect to see more of in the future.

The future for robots is coming and we are seeing examples of it today. We can expect to see expanded usage for robots in the years to come.

Will SmartWatches Make Watches Popular Again?

[caption id="attachment_4268" align="aligncenter" width="579"] Credit: SlashGear[/caption]
We have seen the recent announcement for the Pebble Watch at the CES show in Las Vegas last month as many of you are aware. This generated a lot of coverage for the idea of a smartwatch connected to your smartphone via Bluetooth letting you know what is going on with your phone. It will tell you who is calling without having to look at your smartphone. It can tell you who your latest email or text message is from and related information. It can tell you the time instead of taking your smart phone out of your pocket. So many of us have stopped wearing a watch that it has lowered the sales of them. Look around and see how many people are wearing a watch.

Watches seem to no longer be relevant since your smart phone has the time on it. But the Pebble Watch looks like it is going to alter the slide in sales for watches by providing something that is so much more than a watch. A smartwatch adds technology and intelligence to wearing a watch which was not available before now. There have been some examples of smartwatches in the past few years, but nothing like we are going to be seeing this year. The Pebble Watch is just the beginning.

Both Samsung and Apple are rumored to be working on one right now and there are probably other companies as well looking at the technology. Samsung could well be coming to market with one to coincide with the coming Galaxy S4. With images found for a possible screen by SlashGear, it is looking more likely that we will be seeing one from Samsung in Q2. And they lay out a very good case for these images representing what we might be seeing on a smartwatch from Samsung. But what is being rumored right now creates far more questions than there are answers.

And then there is Apple. There is growing talk for the iWatch which is the assumed name that many are calling an expected smartwatch from Apple. And for this one, there is talk it will be one made of curved glass to be more form fitting to your wrist. We have all heard about the coming flexible glass displays for smartphones, so why not for smartwatches? There is no reason not to expect to see smartwatches with curved displays on them.

There are many other watch like items to monitor your health or athletic activities out right now and many of them reside on your wrist. Technology continues to shrink and become more powerful, so the idea of moving some of that technology to your wrist will be something which will grow a lot this year. This could even mean that we will start to see smartphones moving to your wrist in the years to come.

Are you going to be looking at putting a smartwatch on your wrist this year?

Bu.mp App Transfers Files Between Phone And Computer

Given all the important information that we carry in our smart phones, there is always the concern regarding losing that information if your smart phone is lost or damaged beyond repair. There are things you can do for many of them to save things to the cloud, but that takes up the available data allocation for your wireless phone plan each time that you do that activity. You have to be careful when you doing it so that it is over a WiFi connection. The idea of having that information stored on your computer is now a reality for either Android or iOS phones.

The Bu.mp app from Bu.mp has added features allowing for the copying of files between your smart phone and your computer. It is not exactly a direct transfer, but the end result is selected files on your smart phone and your computer being exactly the same. The Bu.mp process moves things to their Cloud first and then to the receiving device. This is a very simple way to make sure that you have things in two places so that your personal items are not lost if either your smart phone or computer are destroyed or stolen. That is especially true for your contacts and photos that are on your smart phone. I maintain all my contacts on my Galaxy S3 and not on my computer, so if I lost it, it would be a big problem. And I can select other files on my computer that I want to take with me.

The current version of the Bu.mp app is an expansion of what it has been known for in the past. It has been best known for transferring files between smart phones with the app. And with a limit of 30 MB, it should be far more than you will need. With the free Bu.mp Cloud service you have a place to store your selected information and the goal of the company is to keep the service free. They are looking to expand the amount of space in the future, but that will probably incur a cost to people using the additional storage space.

The process is very simple. You download the Bu.mp Andoid app or the iOS app and install it on your phone. You navigate to Bu.mp. on your computer and you are ready to begin. You then select the items that you want to share on your smart phone and tap the space bar on your computer with your smart phone which starts the process. That's all there is to it.

Clean Your Windows Computer With Jumpshot USB Stick

Kickstarter Friday - Removing Malware via a Linux USB Stick from Jumpshot

The idea of being able to remove Malware and other items from your Windows PC in a single step with a simple device is something that many of us have wanted to see. It is a painstaking process to clean up a new computer of all the bloatware that is added. Or to clean up bad registry settings when things are not going well. Or to try and clean up a virus that has taken up residence on your computer. These and many more items cause problems from minor to major. But, what if there was a device that you could plug into a USB port which would go through your computer and clean up all these items and even more. Would you be interested.

Today's project is Jumpshot which was a Kickstarter project last year and ended on September 8th with them receiving pledges of $162,598 for the goal of $2,500. Very impressive and it is because of what they are working to complete. The USB sticks, which come as strange looking characters, are packed with a Linux OS which has been designed to run and go through your Windows computer performing various tasks. This is the best product for non-technical folks who now rely on calling someone to come and work on their computer. Some of the things that Jumpshot can fix for you include:

• Removing bloatware from a newly purchase computer


• Removing a virus your anti-virus software can't remove


• Speeding up a slow computer as compared to others


• Determining the health of your computer

One of the great features for Jumpshot is the services from the Cloud which is part of the process. This will allow for updates to your Jumpshot stick so that it has the most current Linux OS version, if needed. The process starts by going out to the Internet if possible to see how their Cloud service can help you with the problems being experienced. If they can, the most current version is installed onto the Jumpshot USB. As part of the process, they can provide advanced services to fix your computer and we can expect that there will be some sort of charges for that. Exactly what those services will include will be finalized as this comes to market.

They are not currently selling the Jumpshot on the Jumpshot.com site and it is currently just a static page that only has a link to the Kickstarter project. Those who pledged amounts have received their Jumpshot USB stick and are using them. And there is a forum like site for reporting bugs, general questions and suggestions. It looks like they are using the pledge group to Beta test the entire concept before offering it to the general public. When this is made available, it looks like it will be very successful. No word on pricing for the Cloud Services. Current plans are to provide two sizes of 8 GB (USB 2.0) or 32 GB (USB 3.0). The Linux OS only takes up about 200 MB, so lots of space left over. Watch for this one to come to market as it will be a must have.

Lightning And MicroUSB Connector Startup Offers A New Perk

A few weeks ago we wrote about a cool new Lightning connector for new iPhones iPad Minis that elegantly integrates a built-in microUSB jack. The project is currently being crowd funded at Indiegogo and at the time we published the article the lowest contribution that would put one of these ingenious cables in your hands was $25.

The guys at Orobis contacted me yesterday to inform us that as a result of the recent positive media coverage, they have some support from the manufacturer to be able to make a special offer. Right now, the team is offering 1,000 Orobis Transform cables for only $18, normally a $29.99 retail value each. Plus free shipping in the US.

Upon the news I immediately snatched up two cables. As someone who carries around an iPad Mini, Samsung Galaxy phone, and Sony eReader, I appreciate the ability to use one cable for all my devices. Especially when traveling, it seems I always forget at least one adapter at home when I go on the road. Even the name is cool: Orobis, which is derived from the Greek Ouroboros, a snake which eats its own tail.

For the full story on Orobis, you can check out our original article: Orobis Transform – Lightning And MicroUSB Connector.

If you’re ready to support the project and be one of the first to get your hands on one of these brilliantly designed cables, just head on over to the Indiegogo campaign page:

The Orobis Transform: Amazingly Transformative Cable for iPhone 5 & iPad mini

On the right side you’ll see the contribution options with the new $18 level.

Mounting Your iPhone On Your Bike From Biologic

If you are athletic and ride your bike as part of your exercise routine, having the ability to attach your iPhone and use its features would add to the benefits of your exercise. Since the iPhone has built in GPS, you could add a few apps to your iPhone and take advantage of addition information which you could capture. All that you would need is the ability to attach it to your handle bars where a quick glance down and you see the screen for information. But, given the vibrations that you normally have when riding, you would also need to cushion the phone.

A company call Biologic has provided a Bike Mount that works with the current iPhone 5. And they also have a mount which will fit the very popular iPhone 4. One of the key features which they are providing is cushioning to protect your iPhone. The RidgeSeal case design will protect your iPhone from the weather and things that get kicked up as you ride. Installation is quick and easy as demonstrated in the video below. Once installed, you can rotate and pivot your iPhone to the spot that works best for you. And they have allowed for a hole for the rear camera so that you can take pictures while you ride.

While you can pick from a number of different apps to track your ride, Biologic recommends the BikeBrain app on the iTunes store as a "Free App". This will provide you information as you are riding in real time. The real time includes speed, time, distance which are the items that you would expect to see. The app also tracks your ride on a map so you can see where you have been. There are other iPhone apps in the market which are very similar, so look for the one that best fits your needs.

Providing mounts for Android phones is far more difficult given all the variations in size, so they do support very few of the Android smart phones. The Galaxy S3 and Motorola Razor are two popular phones which are not supported. But, if you are part of the iPhone crowd, you are going to find exactly what you need for taking your iPhone with you on a bike ride. Prices vary on this product, so look around for the best price you can find.

Secure Access From Public Networks With iTwin Connect

If you travel with a laptop and have to use public access to the Internet, you often wonder just how secure that connection actually is. Using WiFi connections has been something of conversation over the past few years because of hacks that people have done to capture what you are sending to the web. It is something that would concern someone using a company web site where you are not connected over a secure connection such as VPN accessing company data. But there is now something you can use to insure your privacy and protect yourself.

The iTwin Connect from iTwin.com is a product solution which you may be interested in. This will provide you with your own private VPN which has zero configurations for you to make for it to work. Simplicity is the beauty of this product which has two halves to it as you can see. Your start the process by plugging them together and then inserting one USB end into your home computer. This sets up your home computer as the base and sets the necessary VPN security connections. You then disconnect the iTwin Connect USB end that is not plugged into your computer and that goes with you as you travel. The iTwin Connect piece in your home computer stays there.

The requirements for the home computer using the iTwin Connect is that it be a Windows based computer. A Mac solution should be available in Q2 this year, but there is no word on a Linux version at this point in time. When you are away from home and want to connect securely on a public network, you insert the iTwin Connect USB part you are carrying with you and select the "Teleport Me" function which you will then see. At this point, all your Web activity is encrypted and going through your home computer, not out in the public network where someone might try and grab it. This alone is well worth the price of the product at $129.

But, what if your home computer is not on at the time? You have an option to connect to another host which iTwin Connect can provide with their on dedicated servers in the US, Europe and Asia if the need arises. There are other features you can take advantage of with the iTwin Connect, such as having the ability to remotely connect to your home computer desktop. And if that does not make this a real bargain, if you are connecting to your home computer, you will have the ability to transfer files back and forth. Another great feature on a small and portable product.

The iTwin Connect is a connection from a computer to a computer and in a world which is quickly moving to be tablet centric when you are traveling, it misses a key part of the population which could really benefit from this kind of technology. If they could deal with the proliferation of tablets and provide for secure access with the iTwin Connect over public networks, they would have an immediate success with the tablet market.

Pocket Size HDMI Projector Meets The Need

We have all become very mobile in our day to day lives moving to smaller and smaller devices to carry with us. Laptop computers where the norm 5 years ago to take with you on the go for either work or fun. That has shifted to tablet computers to replace the laptop. And yet many of us carry around a smart phone which has far more computing power than we realize contained in a tiny shell ready to be tapped into. If you want to share the small screen you are working with, there are few options other than having a group conference call where you share the screen.

But there are options and a Pocket Projector from Brookstone may be exactly what you need. This small projector can connect to any mobile device which can handle an HDMI connection and measures out at 3.9 inches wide, 3.8 inches long and only .89 inches high. And it only weighs half a pound so it does not add much to what you are carrying with you. It handles both 1080p and 1080i input for video. Even though is handles 1080p, it does not display HD so do not compare the picture output to that of your HD TV. And you can project it on a screen or wall up to 50 inches. Anything wider than that and the picture projection quality is going to get degraded. This small package seems to deliver what you need.

With the included rechargeable batteries, it can provide up to 2 hours of projection time with the 3800 mAh batteries. These can be charged via a USB connection as most other devices do. The projection light can operate at up to 85 lumens. And while it does come with dual speakers, the quality is not the best. But there is an audio out connection so you can listen on your own speakers instead. There are comments that they are loud enough, but you are not going to get the rich sounds with larger units.

There are a few negatives about this. The first one is the price of $299.99. The other is that you will need to purchase an adapter for your iPhone or iPad to be able to connect to the Compact 80-Lumen Pocket Projector from Brookstone. Other smart phones and tablets may require an adapter as well. There are very few adjustments that you can make to this and there is no adjustable feet which you normally get with larger projects. Given the small size, there is a limited number of things to be included and keep the price down.

In spite of the negatives, this will meet your projection needs from a pocket size projector.

Magnetic Cable Organizer With Style

I look around my desk and see all these cables laying around for the chargers for my mobile devices. And I do not want to admit how often I have to fish around behind the desk to find those cables that have slipped down from the desk. It is not that much fun to crawl around to retrieve them and pull them back up to desk top. There are all kinds of solutions for this problem, but they seem to look cheap and do not have any character to them.

That is until I saw the Magnetic Organization System or MOS for short. This cable organizing system was featured on KickStarter a while back and I had completely forgotten about it until recently. This has elegance and style to it making it something that looks like it belongs. This solution is quite simple. It has an internal magnet which holds your cables in place so that they are always available and look organized. No more having wires all over you desk so that they will not fall out the back.

And, if your cable does not have enough metal on it to be held by the MOS cable system, they supply 3 of their magnetic cable ties to handle those needs as well. As part of the product, they have a non-slip surface on the bottom so that the weight of the cables does not drag it off the back of the desk. Want to mount this on a wall? They have also included a mounting circle as well so that your cables can be held off to the side. You simply put that on the bottom and then press the device to the wall.

The MOS Magnetic Cable Organizer is available in either white or black plastic and has been seen at prices less than $20. The aluminum model is obviously going to be more expensive and you will pay about $40 for that version. While the aluminum model is twice the price of the plastic ones, it really does look great.

Is An Ubuntu Phone In Your Future?

Flying in the face of the big mobile phone operating systems, comes a new threat on the horizon. Apple with their iOS and Google with their Android OS have monopolized the marketplace. While one can debate the merits of each, there are always others lurking on the sidelines which can cut into their market share. In the past, RIM, now Blackberry, had a huge share of the market, but now have a much smaller market share which is down from years earlier.

Coming to the sidelines is Ubuntu for your phone and that means another OS for the market place. And this one us known for the great OS that runs on PC's and servers around the world. Already having a big name provides automatic recognition to consumers. The news about Ubuntu preparing to enter the phone market is not new and was known in April last year. What is new is a date when the first Ubuntu phones will be released and shipping according to the Wall Street Journal. This can be considered big news, but for Google, this presents a threat to their huge market share.

We know that major manufacturers of smart phones have been hit with lawsuits over features of the Android OS, most notably Samsung. With Ubuntu, a new option is being offered as a way to gain sales of smart phones without relying on Android for the majority of sales. There have been several reviews about just how well the Ubuntu OS is going to work on smart phones and there are obviously issues with a pre-beta product. Versions of the Ubuntu Phone OS are running on Android capable phones because it handles the same Android kernel and the associated drivers. This is making it very easy for people to look at the features for the Ubuntu OS on their phones.

A Ubuntu Phone OS is a ways off and much can change between now and October which may alter the landscape. As an example, a new Samsung Galaxy S5 or the next iPhone is going to have an impact. These and other items are going to be a major challenge for Ubuntu to be present on a significant number of phones this year. There is a lot of competition in the market right now with the Windows Phone OS continuing to struggle with growing its market share.

There is a possibility you may have a phone running the Ubuntu Phone OS. Is that something you would consider?

Hyundai T7 Tablet Breaks sub-$200 Price

It was not that long ago that there were few 7 inch tablets in the market for you to look at. Just about all of the companies were targeting the same market as Apple and their popular iPad. Since then, 7 inch tablets have become very popular with growing sales. So much so, that Apple has come out with their 7 inch tablet which is selling very well. With the growing market, we have seen a growing market for cheaper tablet in the $100 - $200 range. And even one from a Car Manufacturer.

Hyundai has been selling tablets and phones last year and now they have released their latest in the Hyundai T7 tablet. Yes, the popular car company has released a new and faster 7 inch tablet. While it has not arrived here in the US, it is available outside the US for prices less than $170 and lower if you look around for the T7 tablet. This is an interesting one because at first glance it looks very much like an over-sized Galaxy S3 or Galaxy Note. And that may lend to it selling very well. Not sure how Samsung may react to this obvious copy.

It comes with the same quad core processor as found on the Galaxy S3 which is the Exynos 4412 will will provide excellent performance. And with a 7 inch display showing 1280 by 800 resolution, it matches the Galaxy Nexus, but at a lower price. It contains 1 GB of RAM along with 8 GB of storage. The lower storage may not be enough for some people, but will be sufficient for those seeking a lower priced device. There is an microSD slot to expand the internal storage for those who need more. This comes with Ice Cream Sandwich installed and not the expected Jelly Bean which is a surprise. You get the expected 802.11b/g/n WiFi connection, front and back cameras along with Bluetooth on the T7 tablet.

The one draw back to this is going to be the battery life. The battery is a 3300 mAh as compared to the 4325 mAh on the Google Nexus 7. And it is this single item which is going to make the biggest difference to most people. While the Nexus 7 tablet gets up to 8 hours, the T7 gets up to 5 hours on a charge. And the big question will be whether the 3 hour difference is going to make a difference or not. Some reports are showing the T7 coming with a 3000 mAh battery and up to 4 hours of use. Since there is a difference in reports, we will not know for sure what we will see here in the US until it actually arrives. We If you are not going to be a serious tablet user, the T7 battery life is probably not going to make a difference.

Another feature setting this one apart is the HDMI output giving you the ability to use this to feed a larger screen for sharing. And this is not something that you will see on all 7 inch tablets. Beyond that, the Hyundai T7 tablet comes with all the other items that you would expect to see on a 7 inch tablet. If price is your primary concern, this would be an excellent choice for a 7 inch tablet. If battery life is more important, you should look at the Nexus 7.

Tesla Tronix - Wireless Power Kit For Discovery

KickStarter Friday - Wireless Electricity May Be Coming To Your Home
If you have ever wondered whether we would ever move beyond having to have wires in the home to connect to lights for providing electricity, you need to read about it. This week's KickStarter project may be providing a glimpse into the future. By creating and providing information about how you can build your own Tesla coil and circuits to show what is possible in the future.

The Tesla Tronix is a KickStarter project and the videos showing this off seem to be a little geeky. That is because this is something that will appeal to a segment of people who are definitely going to be getting the information to build one for themselves. Many of you may have seen something like this in a much larger and costlier form, but this looks like it is something which the average person can take a look at and do for themselves.

Using LED, florescent tubes or CFL bulb, you can be able to hold it near the Tesla Tronix and watch them light up. It is amazing what this is going to be able to demonstrate and you can have one for yourself. You can just imagine schools jumping on this to educate people about what a Tronix coil can do for you in the future. I am not into science and do not completely understand all the details behind this, but I certainly understand the significance of this for the future. For those you understand this, they are providing information on the KickStart page and on their Tesla Tronix web site so that you can get a full understanding.

Their Tesla Tronix web site is up and running, giving you as much information as you would like to see about what they are working on. If you are interested in getting information on the kit, a pledge of $15 will get you the plans all the way up to $275 or more will get you a fully functional Tesla Tronix unit so that you can generate your own wireless energy to power lights.

At the moment, they have already achieved 150% of the stated goal of $2,500 and there are still 25 days left on the project to raise funding. This one is looking like they could raise well over $10,000. And it looks like a worthwhile project to support.

Android Fragmentation - A Never Ending Problem

Google has posted the latest allocation of versions for their extremely popular mobile OS and it continues to show signs of continuing fragmentation. And it is really starting to look like the fragmentation is never going to go away. While many have talked about how bad it actual is and the impact to developers of apps, the very nature of the marketplace is continuing to contribute to the problem. One of the big issues for the Android OS is that it continues to improve and that improvement requires new and better hardware.

If you have an Android smart phone that is more than a year old, odds are you are running Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich). And it is more than likely that you will not be seeing the newer release of Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean). The next version is Android 5.0 (Key Lime Pie) and is expected to arrive in the 3rd quarter on a smart phone to be determined. And that is going to add to the fragmentation issues which exist and will continue to exist. Typically, Google ties the launch of the next Android OS to the launch of hardware, such as the Nexus smart phone or tablet.

The biggest problem that is going on right now is the number of devices still running Gingerbread which is showing as 45.6%. If you add up all the Android 2.x numbers, you get 46.9%. If you add up all the Android 4.x numbers, you get 42.6%. The fact that Android 4.x is not representing more than Android 2.x numbers is something of a concern. Part of the problem is low end phones still selling which are running Gingerbread because their hardware cannot support the needs of Android 4.x. And that is not going to change in the foreseeable future.

As manufacturers continue to produce phones which meet the needs of a variety of people and prices, we are going to continue to see Android Fragmentation. And when Key Lime Pie shows up, that is going to add to the problems of fragmentation. It is not going to take long for those who are eligible to upgrade to Android 5.0 and reduce the numbers for Android 4.x. It is a goal for most smart phone owners to have the latest Android OS on their phones. All of this is probably not going to change the majority representation which Gingerbread currently has and looks like they are going to continue to maintain.

Nano Router Provide Full Functionality In A Pocket Router

Being mobile in today's world is an important item and you try to travel as light as possible with your technology. Whether you are alone or with others, the number of gadgets you have to carry does have an impact. Whether it be with a laptop or tablet, there are always other things that you have to carry. And one of those is more than likely going to be some device to provide Internet connectivity for yourself and possibly others if you are in a group. So, having the ability to extend a single connection to a group is important.

The Nano Router from TP-Link is going to meet all your needs in a very small packages. And this has all the functionality that you would expect to see in a normal sized router. Given its small size, you might not expect much and you would be surprised at this Nano Router. This one can act as a WiFi extender when you are in a hotel letting you use your wireless connections. Or extend it to a larger group of people.

In the default configuration (Access Point AP), most people will use this to provide for access to WiFi. But, if you need to use it as a Bridge or Wireless Repeater, it can be changed to work in that mode. It will require you access the wireless interface and change to Repeater mode. At that point, you have to reboot it as you have no other options. Once that is done, you will have to connect the Nano Router directly to your device to configure it as there is no wireless interface in this mode. Other, and more expensive devices, provide for an easier method for changing modes.

This is powered by a microUSB port and associated charging cable for keeping this running. And with other personal routers, you simply plug in an Ethernet cable and a few changes before you are ready to go. This is the perfect size router to take with you when traveling which provides good performance when away from home.

This small router supports 802.11a (up to 11 Mbps), 11b (up to 54 Mbps) and 11n (up to 150 Mbps) providing you with a variety of bands in a small device. One of the drawbacks to the pocket router is that there is no USB port on this for charging up a device such as a smart phone. That may be a small issue for this as compared to everything else that it does deliver. And it does not support IPv6 either. But given the price for this, these missing items provide for a pocket size router at a very low price.

And this less than palm size router can be picked up for less than $30 from multiple locations on the web. And you can probably find some web sites selling for less than $20.

Monitor2Go - Extends Your Tablet Display

Using a tablet is one of those things which you have to experience as it is a personal device. It is easily portable and lightweight which has altered the technology landscape. But what if you need to share your screen with more than just yourself? That tends to create a problem for 2 or more people to be able to see the screen. There needs to be an option so that multiple people can see the screen at the same time. And in a business setting, this becomes even more of an issue.

The Monitor2Go is the solution to this issue and is from Mobile Monitor Technologies. This is a pretty simple idea which lets you extend the screen of your laptop or tablet onto the Monitor2Go screen. And, you can daisy chain up to 6 Monitor2Go screens using USB. At first glance, this looks very much like the clam shell laptops we are used to, but it is not. This 3 pound screen lets you extend your tablet for meetings making it an ideal accessory in your travels. And, with a 15.6 inch display, it gives you the right size for sharing with multiple people. It can provide for USB or HDMI connections to meet your needs. And there is a slot for you to plug in your iPad 2 or iPad 3 so that it becomes a single unit.

The Monitor2Go has a smaller screen on the bottom half and a larger 15.6 inch screen on the upper half which can be swiveled around for others to see while you still have the smaller screen in front of you. While this can accommodate other tablets, it is designed to work with the iPad (iPad 2 and 3) which can be locked into place (Kensington lock) so that it creates a single unit to carry around. One of the few negatives about the Monitor2Go is that it requires a power cord for use as there is no built in battery. While a built in battery would add to the current 3 pounds weight you would have to carry, it is in the works and we should expect to see that some time this year.

While this can extend the display of your tablet or laptop, it also works with the iPhone or iPod giving you portability options. An HDMI connection is available of non-iPad tablets and if your smart phone has an HDMI connector, you can hock that up to the Monitor2Go as well. You can imagine all the possibilities with this.

The Monitor2Go sells for $299 which comes with a resolution of 1366 by 768. The Monitor2Go HD sells for $329 and comes with a resolution of 1600 by 900. For $30 more, you get far better resolution making this the preferred model.

Exomount Tablet Holder Gives Your Car A Dash Screen

If your car does not have a built in flat screen in it for various functions, you sometimes feel left out from everyone else. But even if you have an built in screen in the dashboard of your car, you may not really have exactly what you want or need in your vehicle. Your tablet has everything that you want on it, but it does not fit to place it on the dashboard of your vehicle. And you cannot have it above the dash as that would make it a hazard. So, if you want to use your tablet as though it was part of the car, what can your do.

There is the Exomount Universal Tablet Mount from EXOGEAR and this may be the exact answer to fit your needs in having your tablet attached to your car and looking like it is part of your car. It is reportedly able to support any tablet up to 10.1 inches, so this is definitely a universal product. The suction cup on this unit should work on most dashboards, including smooth and textured ones.

As you can see from the video below, the Exomount Tablet Universal holder is easily installed and adjusted to fit the size of your tablet up to 10.1 inches. Once mounted, you can tilt and swivel your tablet to get it into the position you want to use it. You have to remember that a tablet can be distracting, so be very careful when using a tablet while driving your car. Typing text messages or emails is not what you should be doing.

The Exomount Tablet holder can be purchased from the company web site for $69.95, but if you search the web, you can probably pick one up for less than $50. Another related item that comes from Exogear if their Exomount 2 unit which will hold your smart phone in the holder on your dash. Just be aware that in some US States, this may be a violation of vehicles codes for safety. Or the Headrest Mount for keeping the kids entertained. They seem to have a number of products which can fit your needs.

ASUS Pocket Router - New Age For Personal Routers

If you have ever been somewhere with a group of people and had a single Ethernet connection in the room you were working on, you completely understand the need to share that connection. You can carry around a small switch with you, but then you have to also carry around the associated network cables so that everyone in the room can make a connection. With every mobile device and laptop having WiFi, it makes things much simpler. But carrying around a WiFi Network switch is too large of a device given the shrinking size of devices. Today's Personal routers are much smaller, but are still large enough to add weight to what you are carrying.

Enter the Asus Pocket Router with a specific name of WL-330NUL and a claim to being the World's Smallest Router. And given that it is the size of a USB memory stick, they do have an extremely small wireless router. Operating as a USB 2.0 device, it can handle 10/100 Mbps WiFi connections and is perfect for those of us who are truly mobile and have a need to share a connection with others. Or to turn an Ethernet connection into a WiFi connection so you are not tethered to the wall. This small device is going to be a must have for all of us.

This small device weighs less than an ounce and since it is billed as a pocket router, it may not provide for more than a few people accessing the WiFi without experiencing some slow downs. The rated throughput based on the Asus site using b, g and n Wi-Fi is for speeds of up to 150Mbps. And you can add protection with WEP and WPA so that you know that you have a secure connection. This small USB personal router can be a life saver in an extremely small package.

This will be available for sale on February 14th and there is currently no pricing for the USB pocket router information available from Asus, though we are seeing $39.99 as the suggested retail for this. In a few weeks, it will be available for purchase and something that you really should take a look at.

Nest Thermostat - Bringing Intelligence To Home Heating & Cooling

Many of us have struggled with trying to keep our living environment at the right temperature so that we have the correct comfort level. Years ago, there was the manual thermostat which required you to changing it constantly to maintain the temperature you wanted. Changes when you go to bed, get up in the morning or leave for the day. Then came the programmable thermostats which greatly simplified what we needed to adjust, freeing us from paying attention to adjusts to a certain degree. But, we still made adjustments to the settings.

When the Nest Thermostat was released by Next Labs it brought in a thermostat which had the ability to learn and adjust to our living environment and our changing patterns. This was a form of home automation to control the temperature but so much more. Artificial Intelligence is probably a better description of the Nest Thermostat. They call this a "Learning" thermostat and that is probably the best description of what it actually does.

The Nest Learning Thermotat learns your behaviors as you make adjustments to it and it keeps track of that information. It also can detect that you are moving about in the home to know you are there. If it cannot detect you, it will set itself to Away Mode to conserve energy. During the first few weeks after you install the Nest Thermostat, it keeps track of the various setting changes you make and starts to do them for you. It is that learning which lays the foundation for it taking over the process.

With WiFi connectivity to your Nest Thermostat, you can make changes remotely to temperature settings. And while the only app available when this was released was for iOS, they now have an Android app as well which covers the majority of smart phones in the market today. The WiFi connection communicates with your Nest.com account which is where you would make changes to the temperature remotely. This WiFi connectivity also gathers information about the weather where you live so that minor adjustments can be made to compensate for it.

They claim that 75% of people can install it themselves which is probably the same number who can install a programmable thermostat. There is an installation video and it makes the whole process look pretty simple. Nest Labs currently have the 1st and 2nd generations available for purchase and one of the big differences is the 2nd gen is thinner. If you have a narrow hallway, the reduction in how far it sticks out is a big deal.

The Nest Thermostat is not cheap, but if having technology in your home and being able to control it remotely while away is desirable, this is the one you want to look at.