Question: Who's Got the Fastest Net Connection?

Here's an article and factoid that I wonder if its still true a year later. Could you believe that its a 75 year old lady? Check out this article from CNN.com. It seems 75 year old Sigbritt Lothberg is cruising the web at 40 gigabits per second thanks to her high tech son Peter. Located in Sweden, this lady could theoretically download an entire movie in 2 seconds!

Question: Is My Water Supply Safe or Do I Need to Filter It?

Look, if you live in the U.S and get water from a municipal supply, I would say your water is safe to drink without filtering or boiling. Even if you have well water, if you've has it tested, chances are its fine. You don't need to buy filters which hook onto your faucets or ones that go in your fridge. Of course if you prefer the taste of filtered water from what comes natively out of your tap, then go for it, but that's a luxury not a necessity.

Question: Why Do People Use Life Hacks?

The term Life Hack was coined by Danny O'Brien back in 2004 and relates to shortcuts taken by programmers (or any other tech person) to increase their productivity. A simple example is the use of a second computer monitor to view email on. This saves the time required to switch programs and so email can be viewed at a glance, saving real time and thus increasing productivity. Bill Gates is known to use this specific life hack. The original Life Hack essay by O'Brien is referenced here online: Life Hacks: Tech Secrets of Overprolific Alpha Geeks.

Question: What Are Nano Materials?

Nani materials are just what the name implies -- materials which are measured on the nano scale, that is 1/1,000,000,000 of a meter in scale. Nano materials have found their way into wrinkle free clothes, non-stick pan coatings, some of the best wrinkle cream and other cosmetics, and many other applications. What's so special about the nano-scale? Well at this level, the interactions these materials have with the surrounding molecules can create results in unexpected ways. Research in nano technology is being lead by materials research for consumer and industrial applications.

Question: Who Wants to Use URL-Shifting?

URL Shifting is when a website gets a new URL regularly in order to avoid legal action, become overly popular, or be perma-linked to too much. One example is the online TV and Movies website TV Links. Their domain is constantly changing. In order to find it, just Google it:

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=%22TV+Links%22

Question: What is a Mash Up?

A mash-up is basically a combination or mixing of two or more things which are not related to created something new and useful. On the Internet, a mash-up can be a combination of two or more online services or websites in a new or useful way. For example, using the Google Maps API combined with X17 Gossip magazine posts, you could create a website which showed in near real time the location of Hollywood celebrities in local drug treatment center facilities. Wait, don't take that idea -- I think I am going to use it. I can hear the money now!

Question: When Did Microsoft Start?

Microsoft has been in the news a lot recently, but when did it all begin? Can you believe way back in 1975? Yes, the software giant was founded on April 4, 1975 in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Yeah, not Bellevue, Washington, the now famous home office of Microsoft, but New Mexico. Why? Well Bill Gates had just sold his first software product, Altair BASIC, to Micro Instrumentation and Telemetry Systems (MITS) which were based in Albuquerque. It wasn’t until almost 4 years later when the company moved to Bellevue.

Question: Should I Hide a Key Outside?

There are lots of cool product son the market to hide an extra "emergency" key outside your home. If you've ever been locked out then maybe its something worth looking into. From fake rocks to garden decor with hidden compartments, you can buy a rather realistic item that will blend into the surroundings while keeping your key safe! Think about it! Just make sure no one sees you placing it!

Question: How Can I Save on Apple Products?

Are you a student? If so, you can save money from Apple. That's great -- usually Apple products don't go on sale. Just visit the Apple store page and enter in your school. You will then be taken to a version of the Apple store for your school. All products have a 10% discount applied to them. That can go a long way especially if you need to buy a high end Mac for graphics editing or video production.

Question: What Next in Furniture?

I hope we see a rise in eco-friendly materials. For instance with patio furniture, there is a big potential advantage if it is made out of recycled or ultra-durable materials. Sure plastic is OK but it discolors and can even crack under prolonged exposure. If this outdoor furniture can be made of more durable materials, we could reduce the amount of waste and amount of landfills piling up around the country.

Question: Why Should I Buy A Service Plan for a Plasma TV?

It used to be, a few years ago, that a service plan was almost mandatory when buying a plasma TV. The technology just wasn't mature enough to be totally reliable. Add that fact to the extremely high price first adopters faced, and you really didn't want to take any chances with your $6000 investment. But fast forward 5 years and I think Plasma technology has matured to the point where you don't have to buy an extended service plan. You might consider it if you want the piece of mind, but the chances of facing a serious problem out of warranty is a lot less.

Question: Why is My Vista Machine Running Slow?

Microsoft Vista has been widely reported to run more slowly than Windows XP on the same computer. Why? Memory! It is most likely that Vista requires a lot more memory to run all those amazing graphics and GUI. All things being equal, you probably need more computer memory installed and perhaps you'll see an improvement. Me? Well I'm giving up on Vista altogether and buying a new iMac!

Question: When Should I Buy a Plasma TV?

Prices are coming down every month, so the longer you can hold out, the less you will pay for a Plasma TV. The technology and definition is pretty much stable right now (you'll want 1080p) so there is no great risk in buying something that will fall behind. Just imagine if you has bought a 1080i display a year ago -- you'd probably be mad right now, specially if you wanted to buy a Blu-ray player. I would really recommend trying to hold off until Black Friday to get a great deal on Plasma TVs.

Question: What is the Most Famous Skateboarding Video Game?

Leave it to none other than Tony Hawk to make the best selling skate video game of all time. Not only did he have to rule the board market, but he added clothes, skate shoes, and gear. Then Tony stepped into the video game market and created the award winning line of games bearing his name. Tony Hawk's Skateboarding was released in 199 and was a big hit. Nine more titles later and Tony Hawk is the king of video games.

Question: Have You Heard of the Amazon Simple Queue Service?

The Amazon Simple Queue Service is a messaging service by Amazon.com. It is a service offered by Amazon where businesses can integrate SMS and other messaging technologies into their work flow without having to maintain their own server. It costs around $0.1 per 1000 messages. It is meant to compete with Java Message Service and Microsoft Message Queuing and is just another example how Amazon is trying to branch out as a web services company. Sound familiar? Sounds like Google.

Question: When Will The Skies Open Back Up?

Travel restrictions have been on us for the better half of a decade now. When will they be eased? OK, first it made sense -- restrictions on safety cutters, straight edge razor blades, and pepper spray. But then came restrictions on liquids, baby formula, and drinks. I hope this trend reverses itself and we start seeing fewer restrictions instead of more. The friendly skies could use technology to both keep us safe and make it less difficult to navigate an airport.

Question: When's the New iPhone Coming Out?

What the next iPhone will bring. Think about the first iPod. It seems like a dinosaur as compared to the current model. So what will the next iPhone be like? How about a video camera? Imagine if you could record video on your iPhone and edit a mobi-movie on the fly! The current iPhone has been out for almost a year -- when will it replaced and upgraded with something new?

Question: Where is the Magic Pill We've Been Promised?

What's this "Magic Pill" I'm talking about? Of course its the magic weight loss pills we've been promised these years. Imagine -- take a pill before you eat and not gain a pound. Remember the Phen-Phen drama? Yeah, that pill was bad medicine, but I can only hope that technology and science will come through in the near future and deliver the weight loss pill we've been waiting for.

Question: How Can the iPod Improve?

I remember this great blog post on the Apple 2.0 blog titled "Apple iPhone's Missing Pieces". Out of all the great features the iPhone touts, there are several so-called missing pieces. Among those are:

No instant messaging

Camera can't record video

Can't play Web pages with Flash

No access to iTunes Music Store

No games

Can't turn iPod songs into ring tones

No way to search phone book or song lists

No GPS or real-time navigation system

No access to a fast, 3G network

Not so great, right? Yeah right! The iPhone has been a great success -- what will the next iPhone have?

Question: What Can I Plug my iPod Into?

I think the real question here is "What CAN'T you plus an iPod into?" Any takers to that question? I mean its amazing how an entire industry of iPod-pluggable devices to the market. From clock radios to floor speaker systems (OK these make sense) we have even seen iPod connecting to desk lamps, fitness equipment, and running shoes. What could possibly be next for the world of iPod connectivity?

Question: Who Owns Zune.com?

The Zune, of course, is Microsoft's answer to the iPod. But if you type in www.zune.com you get.... forwarded to zune.net! The official Zune site has always been www.zune.net, but what's up with the dot com version? Well it's now owned by Microsoft (just enter the verification code and see for yourself), but I have a sneaky feeling it wasn't always that way. Well looking at the Wayback Machine at the Internet Archive we get this strange info. Looks like Microsoft has owned it but perhaps not regularly. The site shows "Under Construction" a few times. Why did Microsoft choose dot net is they owned dot com and why wasn't it forwarded?

Question: Should I Buy or Lease a Laptop?

For small businesses this sort of question comes up all the time. Leasing is useful because the capital investment is small and the rates affordable on a monthly basis. But buying gives you complete ownership and the flexibility of owning the equipment. If you keep the laptop for several years, buying becomes cheaper than leasing, but on the other hand, leasing means you will always be able to have the latest equipment (changing it out every 2 or 3 years). Another option seldom investigated is laptop rental. Laptop rental applies to short time frames like weeks or months and is useful when you need to augment your mobile computer ability without making any real capital investments.

Question: Which PS3 Game is on Top?

Although only a couple of years old, there is already a clear leader in the number one PS3 game .The number one selling PS3 game to date is Resistance: Fall of Man with over 2.2 million units sold since it first came out in November 2006. The game was actually one of the title releases for the PS3 as it debuted. With an elaborate back story involving an alternate tale of history, the game has been a best seller.

Question: Where is the Magic Pill?

For hair loss? For beauty? Nah, I'm looking for the magic weight loss pill! This is one medical breakthrough I am just waiting for. It must be possible and you know that people are working on it. Think about how much money was made on Viagra.... now double that when you think of all the people, men and women, who will want this weight loss in a pill treatment!

Question: What is Hulu.com?

Oh, nothing more than the future of television! That's the opinion of Slate magazine's Michael Agger. And after looking at it, I tend to agree! Hulu.com is the first real "YouTube killer" I've seen. Backed by Fox and NBC, Hulu.com has full length episodes of popular TV shows available on demand with limited advertising. You can also watch full feature length films for free! Oh yeah, did I mention that the whole enterprise is free! Give it a look and I bet you will bookmark it. It's like TiVo, but its online and its for free! I've spent the evening catching up on oldies like the Addams Family.

Question: How Little Can I Pay for a New Computer?

Everyone needs a computer these days. If you have kids in your house, you almost have a parental requirement to get one. It's what you need to get your kid up to speed with the rest of the world. This is where buying a barebones computer comes in. With no frills, these computers get the job done with basic programs (word processing, calculator, paint, email, internet). They cost starting from $250 and can be found at major electronics retailers during sale periods. Other times of the year, you can get one for about $450 from Dell or other manufacturers.

Question: What Will the Future of Portable Storage Hold?

Right now, when we think of portable storage, we think of USB sticks. They are great and have steadily dropped in price per MB (or GB) for years and years. So are they the end-product? No way! That's not the end of the line. I think something better is coming – Memory Cards! Memory cards will have the form factor of a credit card. They will be able to hold many GBs of memory and fit into your wallet. They could have a built-in fingerprint scanner to protect your data even if stolen. Of course computers and portable devices will have to start including card readers to fit, but it isn't too much of a stretch to see it happening.

Question: Will Electronics Cause a Run on Gold?

Coincidence or not? In the past few years, the personal electronics market has grown substantially. At the same time, the price of gold has risen dramatically too. Are all these integrated circuits boards pushing up the price of gold? Probably not, but it doesn't hurt. Investing in gold bullion could help you capitalize on the run up on gold prices. The Monex Deposit Company (MDC) can help you purchase precious metals for low transaction costs, keeping you close to the actual market price. Over the long run, this can maximize your profits and keep your investment costs low. Delivery straight to your door or to the safety of your bank deposit box, Monex can get you into the exciting world of precious metals investing.

Question: Will Apple Segment Their iPhone Offering?

It happened with the iPod. It started with one unit and now we are at something like 10 different models, each at a different price point. The iPod, the Mini, the Nano, the Shuffle -- all different. But will the same happen for the iPhone? No. Apple is considering the iPhone as a new iPod model -- not its own product line. Also, how could they possible repackage the iPhone in a cheaper offering? It's not like a Shuffle where they can eliminate the screen and still play music. The iPhone needs a big screen, and to play lots of music and media, and make phone calls. Can anyone think of how they could reduce that?

Question: What is High Tech for Home Health?

One area where home technology has been good for health is home spa devices. From high tech hot tubs to massage therapy devices, these devices can make your experience at home very beneficial to your health. Have you seen these massage chairs from The Sharper Image? They cost about $2000 but offer a total body massage. The leg add-on machine is amazing too. Do I own one? Nope, too expensive. But that doesn't stop me from sitting in it every time I go to the mall!

Question: Should A Medical Practice Have a Website?

Absolutely! A website for this type of business can include lots of important information, like:

• Business Hours
• Telephone Numbers and Directions
• Online Appointment Scheduler
• Downloads of Blank Forms
• Corporate Blog!

The whole point is that even if you're not selling a product, you are selling a service -- namely, you! A website can go a long way in attracting new patients.

Question: How Can I Find a Vacation Spot Online?

I don;t know about you, but I have had a lot of success in finding vacation accommodations using the Internet. Whether is be Hilton Head rentals or airfares to Germany, the Internet and the plethora of sites devoted to travel have made the process a lot easier. I remember booking my first trip using the Internet back in 1999. It was a trip to New York City and I used Travelocity. It was easy and fun and that was almost 10 years ago!

Question: What Was Google X?

Back in 2005 a new application was released by Google Labs. It was called Google search and basically was Google Search in a Mac look-and-feel. It only lasted one day before it was pulled. People have speculated that Apple threatened lawsuit over the style. No on knows for sure -- here's a screenshot to peruse.

Question: Do You Own an iPhone?

iPhones seem pretty darn handy -- you can make calls, read the news, send emails, even get life insurance quotes on the Internet, but how many of us really own one? I don't and here's why: I don't think its worth it! $400 for an iPhone plus $50 a month ($600 a year) on service from ATT. That's $1000 the first year and $600 a year, every year after. My mobile phone is paid by my work, so I'm not spending anything for phone service, so why would I need this iPhone? Tell me, how often do you really use your iPhone?

Question: What is Google Click-to-Call?

Click-to-call is a feature Google is currently testing where you can get in contact with companies which advertise on Google for free. It's really a wild idea. Here's how it works:

1. Search in Google and see an Ad with a "Click-to-Call" phone icon.
2. Enter your phone number.
3. Google will call you right away.
4. Pick up the phone and you will hear it ring.
5. Google will connect you to the business advertised.
6. Talk like a normal phone call.

The benefits are that the call is anonymous on your end -- the business doesn't get your phone number, even caller ID is blocked. Secondly, the call is free! All local and long distance charges are covered by Google. Cell phone airtime still counts, but at least you won't pay for long distance.

Question: What Are Taiyo Yudens and Why Do I Want Them?

Taiyo Yudens are supposed to be the best quality CD and DVD recordable media in the world. They are the company that helped invent recordable media and have remained the world leader. The trouble is that you can’t really buy Taiyo Yudens in stores. Instead they sell their media to 3rd part companies like Verbatim and TDK. The trick is figuring out which company uses them. Luckily CD Freaks.com offers a great posting about where to find TY FAQs.

Question: Is The Government Going Bankrupt?

I put this question to be with the simple answer -- no one knows and no one can know! There are jsut too many factors out there which cannot be resolved. What about the rising costs of medicare insurance, medicade, social security, and the national debt? Who can tell what will happen. I will tell you one thing -- I am not worrying about it!

Question: What's Wrong With My Cordless Phone?

If you are suffering from a cordless phone problem like intermittent operation or static, there are a few simple things you can do to troubleshoot:

• Do you have a wireless router? Turn it off and see if the problem goes away. For longer term, move the base and handset to another room.
• Is the handset's rechargeable battery getting old? Rechargeable batteries are great, but don't last forever. Go buy a new cordless phone battery.
• Are your trouble's related to inclement weather conditions? If so, you might need a backup corded phone for those times or to buy a newer, more powerful cordless.

Question: Where Was the Fountain of Youth Supposed to Be?

Remember the tales of the fountain of youth? The stories go back many centuries, but the modern tale you probably heard about was that of Ponce de Leon in Florida. The city of St. Augustine, Florida is said to be the location of the fountain although it is really just a tourist ploy! The original stories have origin the the Middle East. Check out the Wikipedia entry on it for more details and nice paintings like this:

Question: Should I Get a HDD Storage Camera?

Some of the higher end digital cameras, like single reflex lens (SLR) cameras, offer a choice on storage: memory card, hard disk, or CD. Which should you choose? The choice with the most storage is the hard disk. With capacities of 20 or more gigabytes, you can get a lot more images during a single shoot. If you are rocking a 10 MegaPixel camera, this is amount of storage is almost mandatory.

Question: When Should I Buy a Digital Frame?

Wait as long as you can! What I mean is that the technology is still improving and the prices are still dropping. If you wait 6 months, you will get a better deal and a better digital frame. I am planning on buying a whole bunch of them in about 8 months. Why 8 months? Well that's "Black Friday 2008" -- the biggest shopping day of the year!

Question: How Many MPGs Does The Yukon Hybrid Get?

That's the big question for Hybrid SUVs -- especially for one as big as the Yukon. Sure 22.5 mpg highway is not a lot but its a big improvement over the standard Yukon's 19. Why? Well it represents almost a 20% improvement. Not impressed still? Well if you drive 15,000 miles a year and were going to purchase a regular Yukon anyways, you will save 123 gallons of gas each year. The point is you can't market a Prius to someone who wants a Yukon.

[Image: CNN/ GM]

Question: What is a Perpetual Watch?

Well perpetual motion is impossible, but the term perpetual watch meaning perpetual calendar is possible. Many nice watches like the Rolex Datejust are able to show the correct day and day continually accounting for the different lengths of months and even leap years. If kept wound these watches will always show the correct date!

Question: How Thick is the iPhone?

Or maybe the question should be "How Thin is the iPhone"? It is an amazing 11.6 mm thin ( 0.46 in). Just how thin is that? Well the Motorola RAZR is 13.9 mm thick! Think about that -- the revolutionary iPhone is even thinner than the RAZR which built it's popularity in part due to it's dimensions. That's thin.

Question: What High Tech Features Are Coming from Volvo?

Volvo has been a leader when it comes to safety and innovation. So what's next? Well how about a heart-beat sensing device for your car? Why do you need to monitor (or detect) a heartbeat? Well when it's a robber / carjacker hidden in your backseat you do! This new feature is on the Personal Car Communicator (PCC) option! Wow! I wonder if that will drop your car insurance rates? The PCC also provides other remote features. Check it out.

Question: Are CDs Dead?

CDs may be on their way out. Physical music sales are continuing to decline as digital music sales expand. On the data side of the equation, more and more people are using DVDs to back up and store data at home. So does this mean the CD is on it's way out? Maybe but not likely within the next 5 years. We might end up seeing CDs go the way of the ZIP disk or 3.5" floppy.

Question: Can I Have a Card?

Having business cards available is a basic premise of running a business. This blog you are reading is a business, so it only made sense to make cards. Check out this design I made in under 10 minutes using LogoYes.com:


Pretty cool logo design, right? Well it was surprisingly easy to make. Check it out for yourself. The tools are straightforward and intuitive. Just a few clicks of the mouse and you too can have custom made business cards. Everything you see is customizable from the color to the font, the logo to the layout. The finished product looks awesome and now I will be ready to hand them out at all my business meetings. The free demo is available instantly without registration.

Question: What's the $34 Trillion Problem?

Yikes! You thought a $4 Trillion problem was big. You haven't seen anything yet. A new article on CNN Money sheds light on the $34 Trillion Medicare problem looming on the horizon. What's the dilemma? Well as the article puts it "Sometime in the next President's first term, Medicare Part A (hospital insurance) will go cash-flow-negative, and it's all downhill from there." Yikes! That soon? Well think about this one "they show that if Medicare had to be accounted for like a company pension fund, it would be underfunded by $34 trillion."

Question: Why Buy a Wine Cooler?

Wine coolers are sort of like mini fridges that are made just to hold bottles of wine. So why should I buy one instead of a mini fridge or even just sticking to wine racks? Well for one, wine coolers typically have a thermostat you can set to a given temperature. This is a must if you are going to be keeping wine longer than a few months. I have had a wine cooler for 5 years now and it has kept by bottles of red safe and sound until I was ready to drink them.

Question: What's the Largest Plasma TV?

Shown to the public at this year's Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Nevada, Panasonic showed off a 6 foot by 11 foot Plasma display. That's 180cm by 330cm TV! So how much for this monster of a TV? Try about $150,000. But don't worry -- the price should drop once a 20 foot model comes out. If that's too rich for your blood, just pony up $9000 and buy this 65" model from Panasonic!

Question: Where Can I Find Online Coupons?

Whether you are ready to make your next "high tech" purchase or an everyday buy, you should check out the online coupons at CouponChief first. They have all the codes you need at checkout from Kohls coupon codes to Dell computer codes. When you use these codes you save even more money and that's always a smart idea. Online coupons are easy to find if you know the right place to look.

Question: Should I Buy an HD-DVD Player?

Well as I just wrote, all the signs point to a dying format, but there is an economic justification for buying a player in the coming weeks and months. Many HD-DVD player purchases have deals to get free HD-DVD with your purchase, perhaps as many as 7 or 10 free disks. At the same time, some players are as low as $130. That means you get the player and a bunch of disks for less than the disks cost. Add in the fact that most HD-DVD players upconvert standard DVDs to 1080i or 1080p resolution, you could be left with a useful DVD player in the event of the death of the HD-DVD.

Question: Should I Buy Exercise Equipment?

Home exercise equipment has always been a hit-or-miss endeavor. Sure if you buy a quality machine like Nordic Track, the technology is great and the machines will last a long time. But the real question is whether you will get your money's worth with it? It's really up to you and your personal feelings on it. Are you someone who has stuck with workout programs in the past? Do you really have the time to devote? Are you passionate about fitness? If you can honestly say you will stick to the program, then home exercise equipment is very convenient and useful.

Question: Is the HD-DVD Format Dead?

Well I wouldn't say dead, but it sure looks like its dying. After Best Buy, WalMart and Neflix all announced in the past few weeks that they would be actively supporting the Blu-Ray format, the HD-DVD death watch is on. Now rumor out on the street is that Toshiba Said Considering Dropping HD DVD Format. Oh boy, it really could be the end to the format. Sorry Microsoft.

Question: Why LEDs?

LEDs, light emitting diodes, seem to be the future for lighting technology. LEDs have long lifetimes and use very little power. LED tech can be seen in more and more places light car tail lights, Christmas lights, and flashlights. It won't be long until we seen them at home, in bathroom lights and spotlights. LEDs are certainly going to play a bigger and bigger role in the future of personal tech.

Question: What is Bullet Time?

Well let's go back to perhaps the first famous example of it in popular culture -- the fil