The one thing you’ll find in my collection of over 100,000 pictures is rather what you won’t find (mostly.) Me. When you’re the photographer, you’re always behind the lens and not in front of it. My wife often comments about how I need to be in more pictures but things never seem to work out that way for what ever reason. Having a DSLR, holding the camera out pointing back at myself is a bit difficult and not done all too often. So again, I’m absent from most of our photos. Well now with the Quik Pod, I can once again be in the photo. If you have a similar problem like me, then you, too are back in the game, mate.

One thing I really like about the Quik Pod is you don’t have to worry about asking someone to take your photo. One, it is a bit intruding and two, many people do not know how to use DSLRs. Further, no matter what the camera, many people have no idea how to properly crop and set the frame. (Sure, post production can fix this, but now you have an added step.) With the Quik Pod, no amateur worries will ill your photo memory.

With various other examples of how Quik Pod can better your picture taking, like holding your camera above crowds at May Day riots in LA, Quik Pod’s web site has a great wealth of example shots. For fun, see if you can figure out what’s wrong with this one.

Digital Foci, Inc. www.digitalfoci.com announced today their Mother’s Day Promotion for their award-winning Image Moments 8” digital photo frame. The perfect Mother’s Day Gift, customers will receive a FREE Gold or Silver interchangeable frame (a $20 value) for a limited time when they purchase an Image Moments digital photo frame.

Priced at $199, the Image Moments digital photo frame comes with a Standard Black Frame that matches perfectly with living room or office décor. To celebrate Mother’s Day, from now until May 13th, Digital Foci is offering a free Gold or Silver interchangeable frame with any Image Moments digital photo frame purchase. In addition to the free frame, customers can also receive another Gold or Silver frame for just $10 more. In addition, there are 10 other different frame styles to choose from Digital Foci’s frame selection, sold separately at $19.95 each.

This Mother’s Day, give your mom a Digital Foci Image Moments digital photo frame and let her display, share, and re-live her precious memories at home or at the office on a selection of beautiful interchangeable picture frames. Just insert any digital camera card into Image Moments and memories will instantly come to life in sharp, vibrant color on its big 8-inch high-resolution digital LCD screen.

The handy “Slideshow Mode” lets your mom automatically scroll through her photo collections. MP3 music soundtracks and MPEG video can be also added for more creative options to personalize her experience. Slideshow intervals and transitions can be changed with a touch of the included remote control. The frame also includes an automatic on/off timer, which can be set to activate or turn off Image Moments according to her schedule.

With its built-in memory card slots, Image Moments can display photos directly from digital camera memory cards without a computer or subscription. Image Moments reads from virtually all cards, including CompactFlash I/II, MD, MMC, SD Card, Memory Stick, MS PRO, miniSD, MS Duo, and xD-Picture Card (Standard & H-Type).

For more details, go to: http://www.digitalfoci.com/mother_day_special.html and http://www.digitalfoci.com/image_moments.html

I saw Roadmaster USA’s scrolling message systems at CES in January. The license plate frame one was interesting, but this rear deck version is much more usable. With a larger display and an easier wire job, you’ll be sending drivers messages in no time. The Roadmaster Scrolling Digital License Plate Frame (Model RLPF100) and Scrolling Rear Deck Message System (Model RRDS100) both retail for $69 and both allow for personal messages to be entered. A great way to advertise a business on the go for sure. If you don’t have any insight (or you’re too lazy to key in the message), you can pick from one of 99 pre-set words and phrases such as, “Help me,” “Slow down,” “Turning left,” “Your lights aren’t working,” “Baby on Board”.

I can see this getting pretty rude and adding to road rage but at the same time, I do see a good value in this if you have a business. I could also be fun to see if people are paying attention by putting in your cell number and see if they call you.

DXG USA announced today the new DXG-Roadster all-in-one Personal Media Center that lets you take your entertainment on the road wherever you go. The DXG-Roadster (Model DXG-521) is the only device you’ll ever need to capture precious memories and keep you entertained while traveling. The Roadster is a combination 5 Megapixel digital and video camera, video game and music player with FM radio, voice recorder and storage device, with 32MB of internal storage and an SD slot for additional memory.

Instead of being bored on a plane, waiting at the doctor’s office, at your kid’s soccer practice, or at the Department of Motor Vehicles, why not entertain yourself while waiting? The DXG-Roadster lets you listen to your complete collection of MP3s and videos anywhere you go. You can record TV shows and movies ahead of time directly from any video source via the included AV cable and then watch your favorite “American Idol,” “Desperate Housewives” TV shows, or NBA basketball games on the 2.5” bright TFT LCD screen.

As featured in the March 12, 2007 issue of Life & Style Weekly, the Roadster is the ultimate in design and functionality. Geared towards kids, teens, and young parents, where style, price, and usability are most important, the DXG-Roadster is popular for its price-performance ratio and the multiple features available in one easy-to-tote compact package. Not only can you store and watch your entire media collection of music, videos, and photos wherever you go, you’ll also never miss another once-in-a-lifetime photo-op with the Roadster’s 5 Megapixel camera and camcorder. Also, if you remember something important while on the road, you can record a reminder on the spot with the included digital voice recorder.

“Are we there yet?” How many times do parents have to hear this on a family trip? With the DXG-Roadster, kids can now enjoy their OWN entertainment. The DXG-Roadster features 4 pre-stored popular video games, such as Tetris, Boxman, and Gobang, and is shaped like the familiar Sony PSP™. And since the device is lower cost than competing products, you won’t be as worried about sticky fingers playing with it.

“No other product offers the amount of features at such a low price,” said Paul Goldberg, Vice President – Sales and Marketing, DXG USA. “The DXG-Roadster is a one-of-its-kind mobile experience at a user-friendly price.”

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Sometimes, all we need to make our tears go away (or make them start running) is a good, hearty laugh. Comedian Jackie “The Joke Man” Martling has released a new line of simply hilarious electronic joke products, through Excalibur Electronics. You are sure to get a kick out of this comedian’s new toys. Supposedly “A laugh a day keeps the doctor away” and The Joke Man is sure to keep you nice and healthy with his new laugh tools.

First up is the GrossMaster. This machine is designed for pretty much any age and provides hours of gross fun for everyone. It features over 50 of G-rated gross kid jokes, songs, and of course, who could ever forget, sound effects. Hit the nose to start the fun, if you want a joke repeated hit the right eye, hit the left eye to continue with the gross out fun. GrossMaster can be purchased at the Discover Channel Store for $19.95.

Also available is the Mini JokeMaster Jr. This is the pocket version of the original, designed with the 4-12 age group in mind. This little guy has 45 jokes, knock-knocks, riddles, you name it. It’s nose will light up when it spits out a new joke and if you like it enough, you can repeat it with the repeat button. Also included is adjustable volume and an off/on switch that can help preserve your battery. The Mini comes in either blue for little guys, or pink for little girls and can be purchased at Bed, Bath, and Beyond for about $9.95. The original JokeMaster Jr. (not the mini) is basically the full size version, designed for ages 6-12. It has a little higher price tag at $24.95.

I personally have never been a huge fan of math. Jackie has realized that this is true for some people, so he has now released the Talking Comedy Calculator. It is your everyday desktop calculator, but hit a button and the jokes start coming. Keep your favorite of the nearly 200 jokes on this device handy by saving them. It also includes a built in alarm clock with time and date display. I know some people that would never get their math homework done if they had one of these to play with. The current price for this baby is $29.95.

With over 1200 jokes, the JokeMaster Jr. 2 will provide you with many many laughs guaranteed. It is a handheld device with over 30 categories of jokes ranging from lawyers to rednecks, one-liners to kids-at-heart jokes, and many more. Another neat feature is the ability to rate the jokes based on you and your freinds’ reactions. It comes with a carrying case to help keep it protected and the going price is $29.95.

So if you want some laughs or are looking for a good birthday present, check out Jackie “The Joke Man’s” new products, it may be just what you needed.

Flexity, LLC recently announced the launch of three new PowerSquid Surge Protectors, the MSQ, MSQ-PRO, and Surge1000. The new models feature Purestream power filtering to drastically improve the quality of sound, extra-long power cords, and a very black, very sleek color-scheme. The two MSQ models were developed for musicians and audio engineers in particular. Meanwhile, the Surge1000 comes complete with 1989 joules, 40dB Purestream power filtering, phone-line protection, and 5 power tentacles.

Also announced was the winning of the 2006 Good Design Award from the Chicago Athenaeum museum of Design and Architecture, Electronics Category, which is one of the oldest and prestigious design awards in the entire Unites States. The PowerSquid was selected by jury from several hundred other products that were entered into the contest from 25 countries around the globe, ranging from airplanes to paper clips.

The protectors are the next step in the innovation of the power strip. It features outlets placed at the end of short and flexible arms that can easily handle those bulky transformer plugs without sacrificing outlets. They are easier to plug in and unplug than the traditional power strips many of us use, and have greater reach, flexibility, and more economical.

This award bumps the total amount of major awards received in 2006 up to 3. PowerSquid Surge Protector also won the 2006 Best of Innovation from the Consumer Electronics Association, and also the 2006 Scientific American Innovations People’s Choice Award for best new product.

Chris Hawker, Inventor of the PowerSquid stated: “We are truly honored to receive this eminent award from The Chicago Athenaeum, an organization whose longstanding commitment to good aesthetic and design has inspired greatness from the world’s top designers and manufacturers for over 50 years, what a year 2006 was for the PowerSquid! We look forward to the continued expansion of the product line in 2007.”

The product is available now for $54.95. For more information visit www.powersquid.net.

Tritton recently debuted it’s brand new 5.1 gaming headphones, designed for video game consoles, PC gamers, and USB to SVGA adapters. The Audio Xtreme 360 Dolby 5.1 headsets are designed specifically for the Xbox, Xbox 360, Playstation 2 and Playstation 3. These headsets boast true six station surround sound with removable microphones.

The Audio Xtreme High Performance Headsets are designed for the hard-core PC gamers and are second to none in the current market. It also features the true Dolby 5.1 surround sound with 8 speakers. These are provided through USB and provide an awesome gaming experience, complete with front, back, and center immersion, removable microphone, and of course, built in rumble effects.

And now, the USB 2.0 to SVGA adapter. This adapter lets PC users to extend their desktops to one or more displays without having to mess with their graphics or add a special graphics card. the SEE2 Xtreme SVGA supports not only video playback, but also mirroring.

But that isn’t all Tritton has to show off, oh no. Also recently released was Sound Bite, Warp Drive 2.5, and Xtreme Media NAS. Sound Bite is a portable USB speaker system with a compact, folding design for easy transportation. It integrates a sub woofer and 2 satellite tweeters for superior 2.1 sound and has the ability to connect to any PC or Mac notebook.

Warp Drive 2.5 is a portable instant backup solution. Warp Drive connects to any PC using a USB port and offers 80GBs of either complete or select backups. It’s housed in a sleek aluminum case which is very stylish. And finally the Xtreme Media NAS boasts bittorrent and iTunes server, along with UPNPAV capability to allow users to stream videos, photos, and music to any Digital Media Adapter.

The Gadget Bag from Proporta is the perfect way to store all your gadgets and gizmos – you can keep everything together but prevent any annoying scratches that can occur when transporting your goodies around.

Loose keys and other small objects found lurking at the bottom of your bag can have disastrous effects on your gadget’s screen and surfaces – as well as making them hard to find J.

The Proporta Gadget Bag has one main bag compartment, and two large detachable pockets. Inside the main section of the bag is a small, removable compartment – attached with Velcro® it can be used separately or in conjunction with the entire bag. Pockets allow headphones not to get tangled and smaller accessories not to be lost.

Why not keep your Mobile Device Charger in one pocket, the connectors in the zipped pocket, your PDA in another and MP3 player in another – with headphones wrapped neatly away or fed through the convenient plastic aperture, you can listen to your MP3 player whilst it is hidden away safely in the bag.

Made from quality cordura, the bag is padded and lined with soft cotton. It is matte silver in color with a contrasting orange border, giving it a futuristic look for your beloved tech items. A detachable shoulder strap is also included for your convenience J

Now you can transport all of your gizmos in one convenient bag – safe in the knowledge that they are protected and will not get lost.

When a certain writer of a certain web site was shown a certain tank by a certain mother at the age of seven, his reply was, “I want one!” Well, years later, this certain writer now finally can have his very own Multiple Launch Rocket System or MLRS as it is known around certain Pentagon hallways.

Vavolo has got an USB Missile Control Tank which allows you to plug in the remote control (RC) of the tank into your PCs USB port. Thus, it qualifies it as an instant business tool. Now that the RC is tucked away into your company provided computer, you can control the tank fully from your keyboard. No worry on batteries on the RC either, it’s sucking more free power from your company’s computer. (Hey, Facilities will thank you for not begging them for more AA batteries.) With full sound effects and a 20 foot distance for each of the 10 rockets, you’ll easily be able to take out your enemy, er, co-work at least two cubes down from you. Pure and highly productive work we think. Grab yours for only $80. Trust me, it’s way cheaper than the real deal!

On January 30th, Newer Technology Inc. reported the release of the NewerTech USB 2.0 Universal Drive Adapter. This adapter makes it extremely easy to transfer from your old hard drive to your new one via USB at a speed of 480Mbps. The Universal adapter works with any hard drive and any optical drive (no matter what brand it is) using a USB as long as your computer is running Mac OS 9.2 or higher, Linux 2.4.X, or Windows 2000 or higher. The Drive adapter is perfect for file transfers, backups of your most important files, and accessing information with backup storage.

Because there are so many things you can now put on a hard drive, it can sometimes be difficult large digital video files, music, and photos on an older computer. But what happens when you finally get a new unit? How do you transfer all of your data from the old to the new? NewerTech has made it very easy to do just that with it’s Universal Adapter, all with the simplicity of USB 2.0. Everything you need comes in the box, the hardware you need and the software for you Windows users. This amazing product is available now for just $24.95 at www.newertech.com. Not a bad price at all considering what you can accomplish.

This is also a great helper for hard drives that get malware and spyware invested and need to be cleaned off on another computer. You don’t even have to remove the drive physically from the PC. Just yank the IDE cable from the back, insert this gadget, and turn on the power of the PC. Sure it won’t boot, but it’ll power up the drive and then your other computer will see it as an external drive ready for you to grab the important data and then format that drive for a clean install of the dreaded Windows OS! — Sven