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 Smartphone ShufflerPalm, whose Treo device enjoyed a period as the must-have tool for road warriors, is looking to repeat that success with its new Palm Pre phone. While comparisons to the iPhone and BlackBerry are inevitable, the curvy Pre has two uniquely appealing features. One is an interface that allows the user to shuffle through applications in any order, without having to open or close windows. The second is a feature called Synergy that lets users meld e-mails and schedule information from multiple sources without duplication. The Pre includes a three-megapixel camera, a rechargeable battery, and a slide-out keyboard; it also responds to gesture commands on its touch screen. And a notification bar keeps you apprised of incoming text messages and upcoming appointments. The Pre is set to launch this summer and will be available through the Sprint network. (price to be determined, palm.com)
 Light UpUsing a Kindle electronic book is probably the coolest way to read a page, but it's not so hot in the dark. The Periscope Lighted Folio for Kindle sports a retractable LED reading lamp good for 40 hours on two AA batteries. A writing pad on the left side folds back and magnetically locks into place for one-handed use. And, of course, a pen holder is built in. ($49.95, periscopelight.com)
 Pocket Web CameraQuickly upload high-quality, five-megapixel photos to your Facebook page or post high-def MP4 video on YouTube with the Sony Webbie HD, a pocket-sized device that features special software for fast content uploading. It includes a 5X optical zoom lens and a 270-degree swiveling LCD screen and comes in three colors: eggplant, orange, and silver. ($199.99, sony.com)
 Find Hot or Cold SpotsPlugging the gaps where hot or cool air escapes from your house can help you lower your heating or air-conditioning bill, but how do you find these mini money pits? The Thermal Leak Detector from Black & Decker is one answer. LED indicators tell you when you find a trouble spot - most often around windows, doors, electrical outlets, baseboard molding, and even recessed lights - changing from green to blue or red depending on whether the temperature is lower or higher. The device can be programmed to respond to changes of one, five, or 10 degrees. ($49.99, blackanddecker.com) — Frank Vizard
(Wireless Applications) More from Your MobileMobile phones are already an indispensable tool, but now they are being imbued with a newfound versatility thanks to a variety of new applications. For example, users of Skype, the voice-over-Internet (VOIP) service, can make free international calls to other Skype users. The Skype application works on 3G data networks that weren't designed for voice communications, so connections may sound a bit choppy. Still, it's a nice alternative to telephone company charges of $1 per minute or more. Only calls to other Skype users are free of charge, but with 405 million users registered worldwide, that's still a big universe. It joins similar services from iSkoot and Fring. Talk of another kind - talk radio, that is - is available via your cell phone from FlyCast. The free service works best via 3G networks but also operates on low-bandwidth connections. FlyCast offers access to 1,200 radio stations. Owners of iPhones, meanwhile, can access Flixster, a social networking site for movie fans, and download film previews. iPhone applications now number in the thousands, but the most essential ones, including Facebook access, can be found at gizmodo.com. In the not-too-distant future, iPhone users will have the ability to watch TV via the SlingPlayer Mobile application. Applications are available for other phones as well. GPS, for example, is available on AT&T phones via a MapQuest download, and more mobile phone applications are likely to follow as other manufacturers mimic the capabilities of Apple's iPhone. Down the road, look for cell phones to become Wi-Fi hotspots for laptop connections. — F.V.
Fly & BuyGlobal Fish Mounts. We recommend deep jigging with shimano butterfly jigs for everything from yellowfin tuna to kingfish and all grouper and snapper species. 877.875.3474, sales@globalfishmounts.com Hard Rock Café. This internationally acclaimed chain serves up a menu of classic American dishes. Opt for the legendary 10 oz. burger if you dare! 1501 Broadway, Times Square, New York, 212.343.3355 Special Piping Materials, Inc. We are a leading global stockholder and supplier of stainless steel, nickel alloy, and duplex pipe, fittings, and flanges for use in the oil, petrochemical, and associated industries. specialpipingmaterials.com |
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