Gadgets

If your looking to get a top of the line Seniors Mobile Phone, a brand new Camera or even the latest and MP3 Player, YOURLifeChoices Gadgets page has all your technological needs covered!

Another over-the-top gadget?

Thanks to the iPhone, Blackberry, wireless internet and, now, the iPad, searching, storing and accessing information has never been easier. Still, it came as no surprise when I read up on this new product called the Chumby and the capabilties of its use in daily life. This fascinating little product’s first function is an alarm clock… an alarm clock which is also a digital picture frame… and did I mention that you can pre-set your display to show the daily temperature, news headlines, sports scores and just about anything you need to know?

The great thing about this product is you can have as much or as little technology built into it as you wish, as you are the one who programs it via Chumby’s website. With over 1000 widgets (applications) free to choose from and install on your Chumby, the possbilities are endless.

One user reviewing the product on their website noted that he gets the Sydney Morning Herald headlines as he wakes up, the weather forecast for the day over breakfast and the traffic update for his route to work just before he leaves home.The user also noted his love for the alarm clock built into the Chumby, which let him program a different wakeup time for each day of the week, ahead of time!

Want to know more about the Chumby? Try YOURLifeChoices simple shortcut.

iPad – Worth the hype?

Apple have yet again taken the technology market by storm with this week’s release in the USA of the iPad, a more portable version of a laptop.  If Apple can keep up with demand, the iPad is expected to land on Australian shores in a few months.

Now, you may ask yourself, why on earth would I want an iPad and what can it do for me? Webmaster, Drew, has the lowdown on what it can do and why it is worth the investment.

Touch screen
Never use a mouse or keyboard again. The iPad allows you to use the screen touch systems to navigate and type.

E-reader
The iPad lets you download, store and read electronic books (e-books). E-books are significantly cheaper than the paperback kind and, instead of having to go to a store, order the books and wait to receive them in the mail, you can purchase them online and be reading them in minutes.

Audio books
If reading is not your thing, listening to books is simple and easy with the iPad. Download an audio book, then hit the “Play” button and you are ready to listen. Your iPad can be hooked up to your car stereo with leads purchased from major electronic retailers.

Music/Movies
Just like an iPod, iPhone or any other Apple device on the market, you can listen to all your favourite songs and watch movies on the iPad.

Internet/Email/Wireless3G
Think of the iPad as a laptop. It has many features similar to a laptop. You can send emails, access internet websites, play games and download applications from the online Apple store. You can easily access any wireless connection with your iPad, but it is essential to note that if you wish to purchase wireless internet access, rather than relying on free hotspots set up in your area, the more expensive iPad is needed.

Battery life
The key advantage of the iPad is its superior battery life. Most laptop manufacturers claim a battery life is anywhere from 4-6 hours (if you are not using it to do anything). The iPad is more economic to run, as the setup Apple has implemented, means less programs are running and a larger 10-hour battery life is the result.

While Apple has not given a set date for the release of the iPad in Australia, it has announced ‘mid-year’, which, to us at YOURLifeChoices, seems like it will be late-June.

Find out more at www.apple.com.

Record and watch later

YOURLifeChoices subscriber, Joan, is looking to upgrade her television and purchase a device that will record TV shows so that she can watch them at a future date.

Q. Joan
I want to buy a new TV with a TiVo or similar device to make my recording of TV shows easier.  Can you suggest a package that will do the job?  I have broadband with my computer but not wireless connection.  My son has a TiVo, which I think would be good, but is there anything else that will do the same job.  I am looking to buy a 42” high definition TV as my eyesight is not the best so want the bigger screen (present TV is 26") to watch sporting events, especially the Winter Olympics.  I can afford to buy the package that will give me the best results to make my TV viewing the best available at the moment.

A.
Joan, there are a number of different devices and packages available that will allow you to record, rewind and plan your viewing experience. Webmaster, Drew, has some suggestions.

Foxtel
As an avid sporting fan and owner of Foxtel at home, I would recommend that Joan purchase the minimum package available from Foxtel with Foxtel IQ included. Foxtel IQ is a device that costs about $5 extra a month and allows you to record, pause and rewind shows. The great thing about Foxtel is you can upgrade or downgrade your package at any time as long as you do not start on the higher package on the “24 month” purchase plan. Foxtel has a dedicated Winter Olympics channel that will cover events live as they happen 24/7. There is a substantial cost every month from ($42-$135 depending on the package you select).  You can purchase a Vancouver 2010 pass for $50, which allows you to view every event as it happens.
Find out more about Foxtel

TiVo
Released in America over 10 years ago, TiVo helps the user to record multiple shows at the same time, allowing you to view them at your convenience. What makes TiVo so unique is how smart the system is. You can tell your TiVo to record an entire season of a television show and even if the show changes program times, it will pick up the change and record it. TiVo even allows the user to transfer their recorded shows onto their computer. Although not a new product, TiVo has only recently been introduced in Australia but it deserves to be listed in the top five for its sheer brilliance!
Find out more about Tivo

E-book readers

YOURLifeChoices subscriber, Margaret, has asked us to explain exactly what an e-book reader does and what is the best one to buy currently on the market?

2010 has been dubbed by many as the year of the e-book reader but what exactly does it do and are they worth purchasing?

An e-reader, or e-book reader as it may be called, is a device with the sole purpose of letting the user download, store and read books on an electronic device. Before you say, “Why would I want to read a book on a screen”, you need to know that e-readers are completely different to computer screens.

Dedicated e-readers (the sole purpose of the device is to display books) are unique in design, using what is called E-Ink which displays sharp and clear text on the page with a paper-like appearance so that your eyes never get tired when reading on the surface, unlike on a computer screen. Another great advantage of e-readers is that you can use them anywhere, in almost any condition, as unlike a computer, direct sunlight does not affect the screen.

E-readers are extremely portable and the major advantage is that you can take them anywhere and store hundreds of books on your device while being able to read your book in larger font than what would be in a normal book.

There are quite a few e-readers on the market at the moment but the stand out product would have to be the Amazon Kindle. It has a large battery life, is fairly compact compared to its opponents and has a full keyboard attached allowing you to search and download books from the Amazon book e-store directly to your e-reader. With a retail price of $259 AUD, it may just be worth the investment for avid book readers.

Find out more on Amazon Kindle.

Or watch a video of it in action.

Making life easier

Whether it’s your eyesight or your knees that are making life a struggle, there’s sure to be a gadget to help with day-to-day tasks.

Dunk Mug
The Mocha Dunk Mug is the ideal cup for you if you like a couple of biscuits with your tea or coffee. Why clean two dishes when you can carry your coffee and cookies in the one utensil! Left handed dunkers haven’t been forgotten either as it’s available in both right and left handed versions. The slot of the Dunk cup should always face away from you when drinking so that the biscuits in the slot slide towards the back of the mug rather than onto your lap.
Find out more

See-through toaster!
Burnt or under-done toast could soon be a thing of the past thanks to the new glass toaster that lets you see your bread as it browns. Bread is placed between two sheets of heated glass and cooked in full view so you can eject your slice at the perfect moment. A traditional timer dial is still incorporated for people who are too busy to keep an eye on their bread.
Find out more

Big Buttons

For those with no computer experience, Big Buttons generates servery very big buttons to create short-cuts to useful places on ones computer with logical and clear names linked to popular tasks.
Find out more

Elastic Shoelaces
Anyone who has lost their finger mobility will appreciate these stretch elastic shoelaces. They look like regular laces but they stretch to allow you to slip your foot in and out of a shoe without having to tie or untie your laces. Many stores online and around Australia stock elastic shoelaces!

Pocket Magnifier
This gadget has been around for a long time but it’s still a very practical product. No need for anyone to give up a favourite hobby when they have a pocket magnifier. So small that it can fit in your pocket.

iBum

A chair that photocopies the persons bum who sits on it sounds pretty weird. This concept has motion senors that detects when someone sits on the chair. The base of the chair has a built in photocopier which takes a image and prints out a copy of your bum, while leaving your bum feeling warm! The maker of this machine promises that it will never be produced and was only originally made for a university project!

You can watch the iBum in action below.

Fun with Nintendo Wii

The first gaming console built solely on wireless hand movements, the Nintendo Wii is revolutionary.  Offering games that will test your skills and even help you lose weight, find out why you should look into buying one!

How does it work?
Through sensors placed on top of your television, the Nintendo Wii senses the movements you make with the controller in your hand. If you are playing Wii Sports and want to play Ten Pin Bowling with a friend, you position your bowling figure on screen and hold down a button to release the ball from locked position, you swing your hand back, and then forward, just like you would if you were bowling!

What age group is the Wii suitable for?
The Wii does not have a specific age group that the games or console is suitable for. It can be played by anyone over the age of three and has different types of games to suit all ages.

Which type of games are available?
The Wii Fit game combines Yoga training, Strength training and several other training techniques all into one game which are completed on an included balancing board, which can record your current body weight. With this feature, you put in your height and can record your body mass index overtime which will be graphed on the screen, which if you are trying to lose some weight, especially after Christmas, is extremely useful!

Other games include Wii Sports and Wii Sports Resort which combine games such as Golf, Ten Pin Bowling, Archery, Basketball, Tennis and many others. Of course if you are after some strategy games, Nintendo is famous for their Mario line of games and you will not be disappointed with Mario Galaxies.

The Wii is great for personal use in the home but is even better when you have a couple of friends or family members over!

Read more Technology articles for helpful tips.