2011: A Year for Tablets

As each December day passes by and we near the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2011 (January 6-9), one thing becomes clearer. 2011 is going to be a year for tablets. Apple set the benchmark earlier this year with the extremely successful iPad and competitors are often found trying to keep up with the technology. It's only a matter of time before we see tablets that truly compete with the versatility, ease-of-use and features that the iPad promises. And then there will be the iPad 2!

NiZn Rechargeable Batteries: Eco-Friendly Technology

The Apple Bluetooth Keyboard and Magic Mouse are very good devices but they consume battery power like there's no tomorrow. There is no doubt that using rechargeable batteries is the way to go as it is less expensive than using alkaline batteries and more 'green'. I came across these new Nickel Zinc rechargeable AA size batteries on Amazon and they promise to be even greener than regular rechargeable NiMH ones.

The Misery that's the 'Free Hotel Wi-Fi'

I'm back from my weekend trip to LA and it was a very picturesque drive back and forth. I had my MacBook Air, iPad and iPhone 4 with me along the way. The Virgin Mobile Mi-Fi gave me internet connectivity on the wi-fi only iPad. It was the first time I've really used the Mi-Fi since getting it last week and I was pleasantly surprised. In most instances it worked better and had faster speeds than the 'Free wi-fi' in the hotels I stayed at. Which brings me to the main point of this post.

Virgin Mobile Broadband MiFi: Initial Thoughts

The last time I went on a road trip was in August this year. Through Northern California and up the Oregon Coast to Washington State. It was a fun 10-day trip. Before setting out I had contemplated getting a MiFi device to be able to connect to the internet on my Wi-Fi only iPad while on the road. The thought of activating AT&T's iPhone 4 Tethering service had also crossed my mind but the fact that I would lose my unlimited data plan for doing so had crushed those plans. Back in August I decided to wait till the holiday season to get a mobile broadband device and to be honest it was a pretty good decision because the road trip was fun as there was lots to see along the way and the motels/hotels we stayed at had decent internet services. So I hardly missed being able to get online at the time.

Now, this coming weekend I have a trip planned to Los Angeles

White iPhone 4 and the New iPad 2

The speculations keep flowing! 9to5mac now reports that Apple has not killed the possibility of a white iPhone 4 and in fact it is very much coming by 'late spring 2011'. I'm sure this is good news for all those who felt let down when Apple announced that the white iPhone was being pushed back indefinitely.

HBO Anywhere is now a Reality!

I found out just today that HBO's streaming service, 'HBO Go', is now up and running for AT&T U-verse customers. This is great news because it means I don't have to use up space on my DVR to catch up on episodes of shows like Eastbound & Down and Bored to Death. Movies on HBO can also be watched on-demand. Look out Netflix and Hulu Plus!

Apple Mac Mini 2010 RAM Upgrade

The 2010 Mac Mini became the first Mac I've owned when I purchased it in September of 2010. I've really liked it ever since because it's small and doesn't take much room on my desk. A very nice innovation since it's a unibody machine and doesn't have overheating issues. It is very quiet too and works just like any desktop should. I purchased the 2.4GHz model with a 320GB hard drive and 2GB RAM.

Lately I have been contemplating upgrading the RAM to its full 8GB capacity. Flash player and Java have been acting up on me and I didn't exactly know if it was because of insufficient RAM. So when I opened up the Activity Monitor it showed I only had about 200MB of free RAM at one point.

iOS 4.2 on the iPad and Netflix Streaming Subscription

It's finally here! Apple released the much awaited iOS 4.2 update on Monday, November 22nd, 2010 and I'm guessing everyone who owns an iPad must have scrambled to update their device. For those at work, the wait to get home and do the update must have been agonizing. But, was it worth all the "hype"? It was, and here's why.

BodyGuardz for the MacBook Air

I've never been a big fan of cases for my portable devices unless I'm traveling or on the go. For everyday use I like to be able to use the gadget in its bare existence. I know many people who keep telling me that using a case on my iPhone would protect it from falls. To that I usually say, "if you handle your phone with care then there's no reason for it to fall". But then again, accidents do happen and to account for those I have settled down to using protective films on most of my devices. If you get the right one and put it on the right way they are almost invisible. It's like holding the device in its bare existence but knowing it's protected from scratches and dings.

The Tablet War welcomes the Samsung Galaxy Tab

I don't own an Android phone or device. Not yet, anyways. For some reason I feel it would be like using an old-generation Symbian OS device. I used Nokia phones for many years before smart phones came into existence. Symbian phones had applications that hardly ever worked the way they were supposed to. Many were developed by third parties and the whole experience was very choppy and slow. That's a problem with many "open-source" applications. When stringent approval guidelines are not enforced you invariably end up with a bad user experience. I'm not saying that the Android experience would be bad; I just haven't used an Android device regularly so I wouldn't know. But it feels like something would be missing or it's not appealing enough. Maybe using iDevices for a while now is the reason. They are reliable and do what they're supposed to. No false claims. However, having used the new Samsung Galaxy Tab (SGT), I have begun to question my blind beliefs about the Android OS.

eBay: A Bargain-hunter's Dream!

Finding a good bargain is always nice. I'm not sure if I'd call it a habit but I like to browse around for the lowest price on an item before I buy anything. Most often I end up on eBay for the lowest price. I like shopping there for all my tech needs and beyond. While many people may still feel it's not safe or reliable to shop there, I really don't think so. It is one of the most reliable places to shop and if you like saving a few bucks it is the right place to go to. Here's some of the things I've bought on eBay over the last 60 days for a bargain.

Case Logic XNTM4 e-Sling: A Bag for the 11.6-inch MacBook Air

I can't even think about traveling anywhere without my gadgets with me. One of the main reasons for buying the 11.6-inch MacBook Air few days ago was my trip to Asia next month. There have been reports that the TSA doesn't require this 11.6-inch wonder to be removed from the bag while going through security checks at the airport, unlike all other laptops/notebooks/netbooks (call it what you may). Having a good carry-on bag which will house all the stuff you'll need while aboard is very essential. It needs to be well padded, non-bulky and have enough room for every piece of tech you can't travel without. And if the bag can also serve as an every day bag, that's a huge plus. In order to find such a multi-functional bag, I went looking for one and I think I may have found it.

My new 11.6-inch MacBook Air!

This took a lot of deliberation. At least I had decided on which model I would get. It would be the 11.6-inch baseline model with 2GB RAM and a 64GB Solid State Drive. But I simply couldn't make up my mind on how useful it would be to me since I already have an iPad and a fully functional (new keyboard) 13-inch Sony Vaio. I think what pushed my decision-making across the line was the fact that I had $200 in BestBuy gift cards that I could use to purchase it and the trip to Asia next month. My new Apple MacBook Air! I finally went out and bought it.

iPad Battery Backup in a 'New Trent Nutshell'

The portability of the iPad is simply awesome. I, like many others, strongly disagree with the people who refuse to call it a mobile device (no namedropping). One big reason for its portability is its battery. Apple claims it sustains 10 hours of web surfing, watching videos or listening to music and many hundred hours of standby time. I have seen it happen on my 32GB Wi-Fi only model which I use all the time. Leave it on the nightstand with 74% of battery left and wake up next morning, 8 hours later, with the battery showing 73% remaining. That's how awesome it is.

The iPad is perfect for use during the day, while on the go. For a device that lasts that long and for the tasks it can accomplish, it truly is a revolutionary device. All this is great for everyday use when you know you can plug it in 10 hours later and have it fully recharged in no time to be used again. What about using it for more than 10 hours without being able to recharge? Maybe on a long flight or

Going Green with Solar-powered Devices

Whether you believe global warming is a real thing or not, using solar-powered devices doesn't hurt anyone. In fact there are many benefits. Solar energy is free to use for all. Although solar panels have been expensive in the past, prices are always coming down, making devices that use solar power much more affordable. From solar-panel-installed backpacks to calculators, they are all around us. Let me tell you about one such device that I have been using for the past 2 months now and absolutely adore.

It's the Nextar NXBT-002 Bluetooth Handsfree Car Kit.

The iPhone 4 Security Flaw and Podcast Subscription on iDevices

While browsing the web for the latest tech news, I stumbled upon a MacRumors forum on a latest security flaw on the iPhone 4 (not sure if previous iPhones have the same issue). It's to do with access to one's phonebook even if the device is passcode locked.

iPad Keyboard Dock + DockXtender Cable = See for yourself!

So you bought an iPad Keyboard Dock to go with your iPad but are you getting the most out of it? I realized the whole setup was missing something. Why can't I use the iPad in landscape mode while still being able to use the keyboard dock? It would be great if there were a 30-pin male to female cable so you could do this. There is one and let me tell you more about it.


It's called the CableJive dockXtender Premium Extension Cable and is available here. 

How practical is the 11-inch MacBook Air?

An 11-inch MacBook Air boasts portability and power packed in a nutshell. I've been contemplating getting one and have been trying to figure out how useful it would be for me. Would it replace my current laptop, my iPad, or both? A lot of self-assessment later this is what I've come up with. The decision has been made but I haven't got one quite yet.

Set Top Boxes: Google TV vs. Apple TV vs. Roku

With the release of Google TV, the set top box (STB) wars just got hotter. I've been thinking about getting a STB for a while now. When Apple announced the new Apple TV I was pretty excited. It would give me the ability to play my movies/TV shows/podcasts on my TV from the media drive. Although my Mac Mini does that now, it still needs more than just a couple of clicks and you're on. I know about Front Row but does anyone use it?

So I went out and got an Apple TV about a week after it was made available at Apple's retail stores (this was well before Google TV was announced).

My First Mac

I have been a PC user for all my life. Right from the early days of monochrome monitors to the current high definition displays. The 21st century has been all about the resurgence of Apple as a player in the computer industry and beyond. My first Apple purchase was the 30GB iPod Video Classic. I bought this thing a few weeks after it was introduced. Still have it and love it. It hooks on really easily to any big screen TV or heavy duty music system. 

A friend of mine had a Mac Book and I remember using it the first time. Great graphics, photos looked fantastic, and the layout was very user friendly. Everything about Apple is appealing; it always has been. More so now with the boom of portable devices at the turn of the decade. I needed to jump on the Apple train. I needed to get a Mac, my first one. And I did.

My Tech Possessions

I have to mention a list of the stuff I own. So here it is...

1. Computers
320 GB Mac Mini 2.4 2010 (Living Room)
Sony Vaio VGN-C140G running Windows 7 32-bit (Work PC)
HP ze2000 running Windows XP Home (Miscellaneous use)

Why Blog? My first entry...

Hello. This is C-Rod and this is my first blog. Hopefully I'll still find the enthusiasm to keep blogging. So here goes...

My professional career has nothing to do with Technology. I am in the Medical field. However, growing up I often saw myself being in the IT sector professionally. Although I don't have any regrets on my choice of a profession, I have always been a geek at heart. One of my favorite hobbies? Keeping up with the latest and greatest news in the technology world. I love visiting CNET.com for example; like their reviews very much. They often influence a lot of my buying decisions, which brings me to why publish a blog.