"TouchPad" Application for iPAD & iPHONE: Use your device as a wireless trackpad for your desktop or laptop computer. The most useful app I've purchased so far!

Like many Americans, I spend a decent amount of time in front of my computer browsing the web, typing emails, and executing a variety of tasks for work.  After spending a great deal of time on my laptop & desktop, I've found that using my laptop's "trackpad" (that flat square area at the bottom of most keyboards) to navigate versus using a standard mouse.

"TouchPad" by Edovia, Inc is a multi-function application for the iPad & iPhone (meaning, it's compatible with both - so if your an owner of multiple devices, it should work on all of them) that transforms them into a trackpad, keyboard, and remote control for Apple Mac, Windows based, and Linux based computers.

Here's a few screen shots from my iPAD:

Track Pad

Keyboard

Command Pad

Remote Control For Media

In terms of using it with different operating systems:

• osX - No additional software required, operates through screen-sharing.
• Windows - Requires VNC server applications so it can talk over the wifi network.
• Linux - Works with most major distributions with remote desktop enabled.

AS FAR AS USABILITY, IT'S AWESOME!  My major concern about paying $4.99 for the application without a demo was that there would be a delay (lag time) while using it as a mouse curser because it functions through the wifi network.   Well, there is ZERO lag time - it feels perfectly integrated.

A rundown of the features:

• Primarily, functions as a trackpad (to replace your mouse)
• Includes a virtual keyboard which you can turn off & on.
• Includes a remote control for multi-media functions (such as controlling iTunes, or Front Row)
• In addition to the keyboard, it also includes a command pad with the following commands:
• Minimize
• Close
• Quit
• Copy
• Paste
• Cut
• Undo
• Redo
• Find
• Home
• End
• Select All
• Page Up
• Page Down
• Return

One useful feature is that, the track pad consumes the whole iPad screen with a menu bar along the top.  To access the keyboard, control pad, or remote pad, there are "off/on" buttons on the menu.  The selected options appear at the bottom of the screen, while the top of the screen still serves as a trackpad.

I love this application for sitting back in my computer chair, with my feet on my desk, and holding my iPad in my lap.

For $4.99 it definitely increased the functionality of my iPad & iPhone and is definitely one of my most favored applications.

"USE YOUR HANDWRITING" by Gee Whiz Stuff: Application for the iPhone & iPad is AWESOME for taking notes!

Today, a friend turned me on to an awesome application for the iPad & iPhone called "Use Your Handwriting" (UYW for short).

While I'm used to typing on an actual keyboard, or typewriter - I always found typing on a "touch screen" to be discouraging.  This discouragement stems from my quick typing ability (on physical keyboards), and I feel that it takes too much effort and time to write on a touch-screen.  There have been many times when I wanted to jot down a quick note on my phone, and found myself preferring the use of a napkin and a pen.  I'm always trying to remember telephone numbers, directions, movies that have been suggested to me, as well as performing artists people recommend I witness.

"USE YOUR HANDWRITING" is an application that interfaces with the touch screen of the iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch.  You simply hand-write with your finger-tip:

After you hit the "done" button, what you have hand-written is transferred to the first line of a "virtual notepad".  

After it's transferred to the first line, you can continue to write your entries.  Every time you hit the "done" button, it transfers your "writings" to the next line on the "virtual notepad".

I think this is a simple yet brilliant concept for an application that helps integrate technology into our lives, in a fashion which is extremely efficient and useable.

There is a free edition, as well as a paid edition.  The free edition is fully functional, and the paid edition which is called "Use Your Handwriting Gold".

After I use the free edition, I'll be purchasing the gold edition - and will be writing another review about the additional features that are offered by the upgrade.

Awesome product!  *****

ZumoCast for iPad & iPhone: A FREE service to play your media library & access files which are stored on your computer while away from home.

From time to time, I'll stumble upon applications that I wish I had known about as soon as they hit the market.  ZumoCast, is one of these!

ZumoCast is a FREE application/service that allows you to access documents from your computer while using your iPhone or iPad from a distance, just so long as you have an internet connection.

This is largely for accessing your music & video library, however, it will also allow you to view documents of other types (pdf files, etc..).

This is not only convenient, however, it also saves space on your mobile device.  

Setup is extremely easy.  First, you download the application to your iPhone or iPad.  Then, you create an account by entering your email address and your desired password.  Finally, you download the software onto your desktop (or laptop) computer as well. 

Once those steps are completed and you are "signed in" to both programs, you open the application and select the file you wish to view (or listen to).  

That simple!

The application is FREE.

Iphone Operating System OS 4.1 Released, Check for updates!

It's out .. Iphone OS 4.1!  For all of you MAC users at home, there's also an updated iTUNES with a new logo, and a few other minor changes.

If you sync your iPhone and haven't updated yet, you may have to select "Check for Updates" - otherwise iTunes may not realize there is an update until 9/15/10 (or said iTunes, on my computer).

Sorry, iPad, no magical OS4 released for you yet!

Stealth Guards: Full Body Armor for your Mobile Devices

Today, I am writing a product review about Stealth Guards.  Stealth Guards is a company that offers full-body protection for your mobile devices.  The advantage with their products over many other competitors is that they cover the front, back, sides, and trim of your device - keeping it almost 100% scratch free!  The application is very simple, as it entails wetting your hands and the adhesive side of the clear protector with a solution, and pressing out the air bubbles and any leftover solution.  If you've applied transparent screen protectors in the past, the application method should be second nature.

I discovered this product by accident.  They were offering free protectors to the first 1,000 customers.  They extended the offer to 2,000 customers - and last time I checked, it now says "limited time offer".  I placed the order on 8/19/2010 for my iPhone as well as my Droid.  I received the order today - 8/30/2010.  I felt very secure placing an order with them because they followed up with emails telling me my order was shipped.  Thank you "Stealth Guards"!

My only concern is that the products arrived in a plain envelope.  For shipping costs totally $5.70 ($2.85 per device), it would have been nice to have them shipped between a couple index cards to help prevent the possibility of them being ruined in the shipping process.  They did, however, arrive in perfect condition.

I highly suggest checking this product out immediately, as limited time offers don't last forever!  I was amazed at how many devices they offered these shields/guards for!!

http://www.stealthguards.com

Why use Google Voice: computers and telephones are happy together.

Today, I decided to write about advantages and concerns regarding Google Voice and why Google Voice can be a valuable tool for managing your telephone calls.

Google Voice is an internet based Google application.  It assigns you a telephone number from a calling area of your choice, and provides services such as voicemail, voicemail transcription, and text messaging (SMS).  It also offers advanced management of how your calls are handled.   It should be of interest to anybody that has multiple telephone lines, those who have a need for easy text messaging while at a desktop computer, and for those who would like to have their voicemails transcribed to text so they can be read within a text message or email.  If you choose to hand out this telephone number freely, you can configure the application (service) to route the telephone call to all of your telephone numbers, so you can simply reach for the telephone number closest to you.

A word on the assigned telephone number... the one advantage is that you can choose your calling area.  This may be to provide a long-distance family member or friend a way to call you without incurring long distance charges.  While most of the civilized world are using computers and cell phones, some people still choose to use "land lines" powered by telephones on hanging on the kitchen wall.

The advantages to Google's assigned telephone number relate to it's ability to:

1. Route received calls to previously existing telephone lines.
2. Execute specific actions for specific callers.  For example, you can choose to blacklist someone from being able to place a telephone call, or you can send them directly to email if you choose.
3. Make free national calls, and really cheap international calls - assuming that you can get around using cellular minutes - as described below.

Google's provided voicemail can also:

1. Be set up to replace existing cellular voicemail.
2. Transcribe your voicemail to email and/or text message.
3. Be listened directly from your computer, or smartphone.

While a telephone number is assigned largely for incoming calls, outgoing calls can be placed by:

1. Accessing http://voice.google.com from any HTML.5 compatible smartphone.  This is the workaround for using Google Voice with the iPhone.
2. Any smartphone that offers a "Google Voice" application - such as the Android based phones.
3. From your desktop using a service called "Gizmo5" - which allows you to connect calls using your Google Voice account.  Gizmo5 is a company that, from what I've been told, was recently purchased by Google.

So far, there area few concerns about Google Voice which should be considered before using the service.  None of these concerns are deal breakers, however, it's best to understand them before utilizing this awesome service.

1. Google uses the internet to decide how to route the telephone calls, however, instructs your device to dial an outgoing telephone number which is Google proprietary.  So, this means, that you're calling Google, and then Google is connecting to the person you choose to call.  Since the telephone call is not placed over the internet (VOIP), it will effect your cellular minutes and how they are billed.  If you do not have unlimited calling, the resolution is to add Google's telephone number to your cellular account if it offers free calling to specific telephone numbers.  If you can Google's outgoing telephone number for free, then this comes in handy for telephone calls where you know you may be holding for extremely long periods of time.
2. If your Google account is broken into or hacked, your call history and voicemails may be accessed and saved by the hijacker.  The resolution is to employ safe password habits, such as using at least 12 characters, a mixture of numbers and letters, and not using the same password for multiple sites.
3. Voice transcription is not perfect.  If the servers can not fully understand what your caller is  saying, it will make it's best guess.  The result is a message that looks as if it were written with funky automatic spell correction.  Most of the time, however, it is accurate enough to understand why someone called you.  The resolution is to listen to the actual voicemail.

So, this is Google Voice in a nutshell.  I like Google Voice because:

1. I have multiple telephone numbers, and it enables me to use one voicemail system for both cell phones.
2. I really like the voicemail transcription.  I configure it to send the voicemail through email, as well as a text message to both cell phones.
3. It provides a telephone number that I can give to creeps, businesses, and people that I'd rather not talk to.  In turn, I can route their telephone calls directly to email.

This is an excellent service worth checking out!  It's free, unless you intend to make international calls!

Introduction to SoupToNuts

I am a technology geek.  I love gadgets as well as the opportunity to use the latest devices in the most fashionable manner.  Since my wallet only affords this luxury from time to time, I fortunately have lots of gadget happy friends who allow me to explore their new toys as if they were my own.  Playing with new technology always glazes my eyes; just like my dog, as he stares down sausage and bacon.

My latest fascination includes two phones:  The Motorola Droid 2 and the iPhone 3Gs.  Yes, I do realize that there are many generic debates regarding these phones.  People get freakishly odd and often engage in frantic conversation in a similar manner to those of us whom stir heated debates about sex, politics,  and religion. There's a strange sense of pride, with overtones of superiority complexities while maintaining a snobbishness that I usually associate with cigar lovers, wine aficionados, and the loonies who insist that Philadelphia offers the most genuine Seattle coffee drinking experience.

The above personality profile is the antithesis of my take on the two phones.  I think they both offer really super cool mobile computing experiences.  

The iPhone

I have a strong appreciation for the Mac's user experience.  There is something that feels as though their products were designed for me.  Simple, effective, reliable.  As a Mac user, the phone made sense to me immediately.  There was no adjustment period for learning how to use the iPhone.  I think that something special pulls together in products made by companies that control both the hardware and software aspects of the device.

The Droid 2

I really like the Android platform.  I like the software modifications that Motorola offers with their Droid 2.  Most specifically, I like their social networking applications.  I'm a huge fan of Twitter, as well as Facebook.  I am constantly sending emails.  I am constantly sending text messages.   I love Motorola's widgets that let you take advantage of all these services within one application.  It maintains a log of your accounts, and interfaces with all of the services so you don't have to load multiple programs or web pages.

In the following days, you will find rants and rambles regarding each device.  The topics you will revolve around product and software reviews, comparisons, tips and tricks, and frequently asked questions.

If you've made it this far, thanks for reading - and stay tuned!