You probably don’t need us to tell you this, but texting and driving is bad, very bad! Everyone from Obama to Oprah to whoever writes those email forwards our mom sends us will tell you the same thing. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, drivers who are texting can be more than 20 times more likely to crash than non-distracted drivers. Don’t let yourself fall into that category!

We know maximizing our time is crucial, right? We can refrain from texting and driving, which is illegal in many states, but sometimes talking and driving is unavoidable. That’s where we come in with our IOGEAR Solar Bluetooth Hands-Free Car Kit. This bad boy lets you wirelessly place and receive calls on your Bluetooth-enabled mobile phone while keeping your eyes on the road and your hands on the wheel. Oh, and it uses the sun’s rays to charge your phone, so you are helping Mother Earth simultaneously.

We think it’s pretty cool, and our friends at Smart Money magazine do too – they were nice enough to give the kit a nod in this article. They position our hands-free product alongside services for concerned parents such as Getizup.com and tXtBlocker.com, which allow parents to disable a cellphone once a car hits a certain speed, say 12-miles-per-hour. These are just some of the products on the market that are keeping our highways and roads a little bit safer.

What’s your strategy for taking calls when you’re in the car? Bluetooth? Headset? Let us know here on the blog, on Twitter or Facebook.

If you are looking for a great deal on the Solar Bluetooth Hands-Free Car Kit, look no further than our own store. The coupon code promoi25 will get you 25% off until August 31, 2010. And, if you sign up to become an IOGEAR Club member, you’ll receive a 30% discount.

Green technology is all the rage in the tech space, and here at IOGEAR we love nothing more than to keep our finger on the green pulse. From Apple’s work-in-progress solar powered iPad and iPhone, to the grass-trimming goats Google has put to work, earth conscious companies are developing new ways to help our waning Mother Earth.

This week Cisco Systems announced the testing phase of their home energy management system, temporarily named the home energy controller. Despite the unsexy name, this is a pretty slick device which helps keep an eye on mounting energy costs. The controller’s digital readout helps people keep track of energy consumption throughout their home and do away with energy waste. Wasting energy is so passé, people.

Users can sign up for the system’s demand-response program, which provides rebates for shutting off the switches during peak times. It saves you money AND gives you the glow of being a green conscious American – all from one small control panel!

In case you are new to our blog, we here at IOGEAR have a vested interest in keeping up with the newest green technologies. We are doing our part to help our planet every day with a variety of products that cut back on energy usage – from energy saving convergence devices like KVM switches and Wireless AV kit to Solar BT hands free kits which harness the sun’s rays to power cell phones.

So, everyone, let’s start doing our part to stay up-to-speed, and hopefully adopt the latest green tech developments – it’s up to us.

What are you doing to incorporate green methods into your home or lifestyle?

Until next week, this is the IOGEAR team signing off. Stay green, readers.

Here at IOGEAR, we like to keep a finger on the ‘green pulse’ of the electronics industry. This week, the latest announcement from Apple caught our eco-friendly eye. If you’ve ever wondered what the green-conscious engineers at Apple have been cooking deep in the labs, read on!

Apple announced earlier this week that while they have yet to release a solar-powered gadget, their best and brightest brains are already working on incorporating solar power into popular items such as the iPad and iPhone.

( source )

Excitingly, a recently surfaced patent application from Apple shows that engineers have been investigating ways to embed solar cells under the touch screens of handheld devices. The patent, which was filed in September 2008, also calls for the use of “light channels” to direct light to a solar cell underneath a touch screen, potentially using a parabolic reflector. Put simply, a solar powered iPod could soon be winging its way to you!



Of course at IOGEAR, we’re no strangers to sun worshipping. Our popular Solar Bluetooth Hands-Free Car Kit has been harnessing the sunshine since launch, and allows hands-free communication and cord-free charging. Allowing you to roll your car windows down and drive in the sun without having to worry about fumbling for cords, this kit allows for safe, clean and eco-friendly charging on the move.

We also believe it’s also important to be energy efficient in our homes. In an effort to conserve energy, we created the KVM switch to reduce energy consumption by eliminating the use of multiple computer monitors. This switch, along with other energy saving products designed for your home, can help make a noticeable difference on your next energy bill and we are happy to help lower that number with you.

From solar devices, to energy saving, to supporting the natural world through our partnership with Road to a Million Trees, we are excited to be doing our part to save energy and minimize the amount of waste produced – and we love seeing companies like Apple join in the green fun!

How are YOU doing your part to promote a greener tomorrow?

Cheers
The IOGEAR team

For green goodies and more, try your hand at our Mystery Photo Contest on Facebook to test your skills and win high-tech gadgets for your own living room setup!

Even though Earth Day has come and gone, no need to let your new-found green ways of life slip! At IOGEAR, we are committed to “going green” year round, and we love the culminating buzz and attention Earth Day generates. It’s all too easy to miss the good ideas in the flood of information around the holidays – but never fear, IOGEAR is here to remind you to stay green!

In this post, we’ll look at some of the more interesting (and in some cases … humorous) green initiatives for 2010. We hope you will be enlightened, entertained and most importantly, motivated to incorporate more green activities into your lifestyle.

CES 2010 – Green Technology goes Mainstream

We started the year at CES 2010 and were pleased to note that “going green” was a hot-button topic among most vendors. As the L.A. Times notes, “For years, the technology industry has been ‘going green.’ At this year’s Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, most business have finally gotten there.” We certainly hope this trend continues and at IOGEAR we will continue to lead by example and continue showing the way in green tech.

Luxury Cars Get the Green Treatment

With all of the turmoil going on in the auto industry, it’s was good to see continued attention on high-end greener vehicles at this year’s New York Auto Show. Let’s hope that these trends take a firm hold and spread as a standard throughout all of the brands. Kudos to Ford Motor Co., Porsche and Hyundai Motor Co. for leading the way! To find out more about the news from the New York Auto Show and check out the show’s iPhone app, click here.

Energy Shoes!

For those who prefer to walk never fear – scientists and engineers are working on solutions for your steps to create valuable clean energy, and even to charge your mobile devices on the go! This technology will not power energy intensive devices just yet, but it could certainly support low powered portable electronics. Unfortunately this technology is not available for consumers just yet … so go ahead and grab a portable GearPower Mobile Pocket Power Portable Battery while you wait

Fast Tracked Green Patents

Despite all the innovation in the green tech space to date, much more innovation is needed to make green energy sustainable across the board. The USPTO (United States Patent and Trademark Office) is helping us to catch up with a pilot program that helps fast track green technology patents. The goals of the program seem noble: contribution to environmental quality, finding or developing renewable energy resources, improving energy efficiency or cutting greenhouse gas emissions. With so many resources at hand, it may be time to take that idea off the shelf and get to work!

Green Goats?

Leave it to Google to find a way to reduce their carbon footprint with goats! Instead of using lawn mowers to eliminate grass, Google is using goats to take care of the job. To return the favor, Google’s new hooved friends are eliminating mower emissions, reducing noise pollution and restoring plant species. What are you waiting for? Get on over to your neighborhood goat dealer and return that expensive mower, no matter how cool!

TPS Reports = TP Reports?

Does the word “Report” send a shudder down your spine or evoke fits of rage across your company’s cubicles? We thought this recycling program may just put a smile on your face. We don’t want to spoil it … go ahead and click for yourself

Conclusion

If you are now motivated to take action, a great start would be to check out CNET’s energy efficiency guide. We’d also love to hear some of the more interesting green initiatives that you’ve come across this year. Please take some time and share your experiences here on the blog, on Twitter or FaceBook.

New Contest!

Be sure to take a moment to check out our brand new Mystery Photo Contest on Facebook for a chance to win exciting prizes.

In all the flurry of green activity for Earth Day this year, we didn’t forget our loyal Twitter followers. Read on for the results of our BIGGEST giveaway to date!

Congratulations to our Earth Day Twitter winner Sarah, who this week took home our biggest prize haul ever – a Solar Bluetooth Hands-Free car kit, a USB Laptop KVM Switch, a GearPower – Portable Battery for Mobile Devices AND the grand prize of a Wireless Audio/Video Kit! We hope you enjoy your new green technology toolkit, courtesy of IOGEAR!

This competition wraps up nearly three months of giveaways in the run-up to Earth Day, so many thanks to all those who took part!

For those who weren’t as lucky as Sarah, don’t lose heart. Stay tuned for upcoming news of an extra-special ‘Name that Product’ Facebook competition, and enter for weekly chances to win!

Thanks to all those who celebrated Earth Day, whether your action were big or small. Together we’ll make a difference!

Cheers
The IOGEAR team

Earth day is just around the corner, and as companies across the world jostle to prove their ‘green IQ’, it’s always useful to know how to separate the green pretenders from the genuine contenders. Living and learning green is a priority for us here at IOGEAR, and through this post and our actions, we hope to motivate everyone to contribute in some way towards a greener future.

Green Policy

While there’s no benchmark to measure a company’s green policy, it is a good starting point. Whether it’s our own personal goals or at the corporate level, the first step towards green success is establishing high level goals that are attainable.

For example, here at IOGEAR, we combine current innovations in environmental technology and apply them to our everyday business activities and products whenever possible. Our goal and philosophy is to enhance your day-to-day life by using IOGEAR products, while minimizing our eco-footprint.

What is your green policy?

Energy Conserved

Conserving energy means reduced consumption of energy services and the replacement of non-renewable with renewable resources. Reduced consumption can be measured by taking a look at your energy bill, while using renewable energy can be measured by simply looking at the various energy sources you are currently using in relation to your energy consumption.

At IOGEAR, we actively conserve energy through our technology and innovation. Our core product, the KVM Switch, reduces energy consumption by eliminating the use of multiple computer monitors. This year, IOGEAR is striving to achieve a 100% Energy Star or CEC compliance for all of our eligible products.

Recycling Levels

There are many things that can be recycled – some more obvious than others. Determine which items you will focus on recycling and measure how much of that item you actually recycled.

For our part, IOGEAR’s product packaging uses recyclable post-consumer paper materials. We are also transitioning from traditional ink to soy or vegetable based ink and we use eco-friendly corrugated cardboard material for product displays instead of non-recyclable plastic trays.

Here are IOGEAR we want to make it easy for you to take that first step – and our latest green event is a great place to start! If you are in the neighborhood, join us April 22, 2010 on Earth Day in Orange County for our free electronics recycling drive.

Water Conserved

Saving water is something we all can do. If you need some ideas, check out the 100 ways to conserve water. As with energy conservation, you can measure your progress by taking a look at your water bill each month.

Waste Reduction

It may not be easy, depending upon your provider, to measure specifically how much waste you are producing; however, you can easily measure the amount of waste you recycle. Recycling is one of the best ways to help reduce waste and is a good place to start as you start to measure your ‘green good deeds’.

Our priority is to use environmentally friendly materials whenever applicable. In our commitment to green business practices, IOGEAR continues to work with industry suppliers to research new ways to restrict the use of environmentally harmful materials in our products.

Trees Planted

In an effort to offset damage already done to our ecosystems through the removal of vast amounts of trees, many companies are making an effort to actively re-grow these resources. Measuring this initiative is as simple as counting the amount of trees planted. You can go one step further and measure how many trees survive over time, even if it’s a rough estimate.

We at IOGEAR have committed to planting one million trees around the globe through our Road to a Million Trees program. This commitment has resulted in over 228,000 trees planted since April 22, 2008 – truly something to celebrate!

How are you “going green” in 2010? Do you have any particular action plans for Earth Day? We would love to hear your thoughts in the comments below, on Twitter or FaceBook.

Don’t forget to participate in our current Twitter contest where you have the opportunity to win green IOGEAR goodies simply by following us on Twitter.

Feeling green? Donate your unwanted electronics and help us celebrate Earth Day!

IOGEAR is holding its inaugural Earth Day 2010 FREE electronic recycling drive at its Orange County headquarters, and is inviting all OC community members to drop off unwanted gadgets and hardware for green recycling. Come one, come all and help make a difference!

Local businesses, schools, colleges and individuals are invited to drop off their unwanted electronic products on Earth Day, April 22 from 9:00am to 7:00pm and throughout April 23-30 from 9:00am to 5:00pm (excluding Saturday and Sunday).

IOGEAR will also be planting a tree for every recycled product received to contribute to the company’s campaign Road to a Million Trees with Trees for the Future. The trees planted are a part of the Cameroon program, which focuses on 17 districts within three provinces and includes more than 200 farming groups.

Need a little more persuasion? As an added bonus, IOGEAR will be giving away a mail-in rebate discount coupon for selected IOGEAR products per donation (click here for a full retailer list), as well as a gift certificate to burger restaurant favorite In-N-Out Burger for the first 300 participants on Earth Day.

The Full Lowdown

WHEN: Earth Day, Thursday, April 22 from 9:00am to 7:00pm and April 23-30 from 9:00am to 5:00pm (excluding Saturday and Sunday)

WHERE: IOGEAR’s headquarters,19641 Da Vinci, Foothill Ranch, CA 92610

IOGEAR will be accepting the following items:

• Computer monitors
• Computer hardware – hard drives etc
• Computer accessories including keyboards, mice
• Discarded mobile and landline phones
• Scanners and mobile scanners
• Music systems and speakers
• …and more!

(no domestic appliances needed)

Look forward to seeing you there!

Cheers
The IOGEAR team

Congratulations to our March Twitter winner Diane, who scooped a USB Laptop KVM Switch, a GearPower – Portable Battery for Mobile Devices this month!

Don’t forget that you too can be a winner as we enter the last and greatest phase of our Earth Day celebrations! On Earth Day itself, April 22nd, we will be giving away a bumper prize stash of a Solar Bluetooth Hands-Free car kit, a USB Laptop KVM Switch, a GearPower – Portable Battery for Mobile Devices AND April’s star of the show, a Wireless Audio/Video Kit!

Simple steps to entering:

1. Follow us on Twitter
2. Retweet any message that mentions the competition
3. Cross your fingers!

For full rules of entry and other legal jargon click here.

Hope to see YOUR name on the winner’s board this month!

Earth Day is just around the corner! Enter our Twitter competition to win a bumper pack of green goodies from IOGEAR

Thanks to all of our Twitter followers who have been feverishly retweeting for the chance to win IOGEAR green products! The latest winner for March has been chosen, but don’t lose heart – read on for details of even more green giveaway fun!

For the month of Apirl, IOGEAR will be offering our biggest giveaway yet on Earth Day, April 22nd. One lucky winner will walk away with a BUMPER prize pack of a Solar Bluetooth Hands-Free car kit, a USB Laptop KVM Switch, a GearPower – Portable Battery for Mobile Devices AND April’s star of the show, a Wireless Audio/Video Kit!

The latest star of this prize package, the PC to TV Wireless Audio / Video Kit is a user friendly and all-in-one solution bringing wireless digital lifestyle to life. Wave goodbye to tangled cables and energy sapping routers and equipment forever, as this kit offers a cordless link between your PC and TV.

The kit consists of three adapters: audio for speaker connectivity, VGA output and Wireless USB for the hosting PC. Giving you the freedom to relocate your PC (up to 30 feet away from the TV), and browse the Internet, watch online video or edit spreadsheets in large flat-screen comfort. This is definitely a prize worth retweeting for!

As always, entering is as easy as

1. Follow us on Twitter
2. Retweet any message that mentions the competition
3. Cross your fingers!

IOGEAR will be announcing a grand prize winner on Earth Day, April 22nd, so get Tweeting for your chance to win!

For full rules of entry and other legal jargon click here.

It’s time to think green! How will YOU be celebrating Earth Day this month?

Congratulations to our lucky February winner, @djh_artist, who will be able to celebrate Earth Day in style this year with a Solar Bluetooth Hands-Free car kit!

For all of you eco-warriors out there who are green with envy, don’t worry – IOGEAR will continue to give away highlights from our green product portfolio until Earth Day. If you had your heart set on getting the Solar Bluetooth Hands-Free car kit, you still can purchase your own via our reseller partners or on our e-store directly.

MARCH COMPETITION ANNOUNCEMENT!!

This month, one lucky Twitter follower will be grabbing our USB Laptop KVM Switch, one of the latest portable innovations from IOGEAR.  Leveraging the convenience of an all-in-one USB cable, the USB Laptop KVM Switch allows you to easily work and switch between two computers on one monitor and file transfer between the two computers connected. Cutting down on unnecessary wires and inflated power bills, the Laptop KVM Switch is a multi-tasker’s best friend!

As a reminder, entering is as easy as these three simple steps…

• Follow us on Twitter
• Re-tweet any message that mentions the March competition
• Cross your fingers!

For all the folks who tweeted the February contest but did not win – you are welcome to re-tweet the March round and try again. IOGEAR will be announcing a March winner at the end of the month. For full rules of entry and other legal jargon click here.

Find out more about IOGEAR’s GREEN initiative, and stay tuned for more exclusive announcements and offers in the run-up to Earth Day.