IOGEAR

Last Minute Mother’s Day Gift Ideas

admin — Fri, 11 May 2012 19:33:00 +0000

If you are just now reading this, chances are you’re running late on giving mom her well deserved gift. While it’s too late for us to help you on that, unless you don’t mind springing for overnight shipping, we have some suggestions to keep mom happy while she waits for her belated gift.

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Clean House

Give the gift of a day off. Put on some gloves, break out the cleaning gear and show mom your love through the gift of manual labor. Set mom up on the couch to watch her favorite show, unless she would gain more pleasure watching you scrub the floor, of course.

And while you’re at it, help mom out by configuring the gadgets you bought her last year that are still sitting in the box. If you really want to be a superstar, connect her PC to TV and show her how to take advantage of the Internet on TV.

Homemade Gift

A gift made by you or your children can be the most amazing gift you can provide. Those are the types of gifts that don’t get thrown away but treasured instead. Include photos and keepsakes that help highlight the good times. Mom will especially treasure these things when feeling blue and your too busy to call. (yes, we are employing the guilt factor)

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Greeting Card

It doesn’t take much to buy a greeting card, so make sure you take the extra time to personalize it with your own handwriting and some photos. And while your at it, throw in a nice gift card. If you get mom a Amazon Gift Card, she’ll be able to save a bunch of money on IOGEAR goodies also.

Belated Gifts

If mom is always on the go, mobile accessories can be just the gift to help her life run a little smoother. Think about the gadgets mom already owns. For example, if she owns a smartphone, then a GearPower battery pack would keep mom connected all through the day without the need for a wall outlet.

Most important is mom’s safety, so why not give her the gift of hands free calling with the Solar Bluetooth Hands-Free Car Kit. Now mom wont have to dangerously fumble around with her phone while trying to keep in touch with you.

What are you planning to do in celebration of your mother this Sunday? Please take some time and share your thoughts here on the blog, on Twitter or FaceBook.

To 3D or Not to 3D? That is the Question

admin — Tue, 08 May 2012 17:07:08 +0000

Following on the heels of the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) conference, there was some discussion about 3D TVs. Is there enough consumer demand to warrant 3D TVs or is it just Hollywood and the CEA trying to push technology for technology sake?

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A Word from James Cameron

In an interview with TechCrunch, James Cameron gave his perspective on the future of 3D TV. Cameron believes 3D is inevitable as the way we will view all entertainment, whether it’s on a tablet, TV or the movie screen. He goes on to say that “the future of 3D will be defined by TV.” Cameron believes that 3D is now the “check the box” standard for new TV purchases, as a feature that they may not need right now, but might want in the future. “It’s really not that big a deal anymore.”

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If You Build It, They Will Come

Cameron’s words ring true, as you may have seen when visiting your nearest consumer electronics retailer – nearly all the TVs are 3D-ready or 3D-enabled. Electronics manufacturers and retailers are looking for that next big technology that will spur sales, whether that is the 3D TV or smart/connected TV. In addition to the popularity of 3D TVs, there are many consumer electronics accessories that can enhance the enjoyment of 3D technology, such as 3D glasses and streaming media kits, which help clean up the cords and converge all digital content together from the home movie library, allowing for convenient means to stream from your PC to TV and brings the Internet on TV experience to life.

For instance, IOGEAR’s Wireless 3D Digital Kit provides everything you need to easily convert your living room into a home theater – including wireless 3D audio/video transmitter and receiver, as well as an infrared pass-through for wireless control of your devices. The kit enables viewing of 3D content in multiple rooms, enabling streaming to two HDTVs.

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Growth Potential for 3D TVs

Analyst are somewhat split on the subject of 3D TV – what will come first, the content or the technology? Although a recent Gartner study pointed to lack of 3D content as a cause for slowed growth with 3D TVs in 2011, a Mintel survey stated that the outlook for 3D TVs looks bright (source Gartner). While owned by just one in 20 survey respondents, more than one in 10 plan to purchase a 3D TV in the near future (source Mintel).

One thing is true, more and more content continues to be slated for the future. 3D TVs are here and are in demand. Don’t be left behind as the technology passes you by. What do you think will drive 3D TV adoption? The content or the technology? Let us know here on the blog, on Facebook or on Twitter. We look forward to your thoughts!

Making Sense of the Surge of Streaming Video Content

admin — Tue, 01 May 2012 12:00:33 +0000

DVDs and Blu-Ray discs may have their days numbered with the proliferation of video streaming content that is available today. There is a plethora of companies looking to make their way into your living room this year. We will help clear up some of the confusion when it comes to the types of content and how to maximize that content for the best possible home theater experience.

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Steaming is NOT Just a Passing Fad

There is no doubt the streaming content has arrived! And will only continue to grow in the near future according to a recent article from USA Today.

Netflix has lead the charge with streaming entertainment content, but it is followed by a host of companies offering competing services, such as Hulu, Vudu, Crackle, Blockbuster, Redbox and Amazon.com’s Prime. However, Nielsen points to another internet streaming leader – YouTube –which they say accounted for 45% of American’s online video streaming time in the fourth quarter of 2011. This will only increase as they are partnering with MGM for movie rentals.

In addition to streaming from a computer, a new way to stream your movies is emerging from the “pay-TV” providers, such as cable, satellite and wireless companies. These companies are combining their usual services with the ability to stream online content: Comcast has its own Xfinity Streampix service, Cox Communications launched Cox TV online last year, Dish Network partnered with Blockbuster, Verizon partnered with Redbox, and these are just for starters.

Now that you have all this great content at your fingertips, how do you bring it to life in your living room?

Streaming 3D Content

Why settle for poor quality Internet video when you can stream 1080p resolution with support for 3D content as well? The Wireless 3D Digital Kit provides everything you need to easily convert your living room into a home theater – including wireless 3D audio/video transmitter and receiver, as well as an infrared pass-through for wireless control of your devices. The kit also enables multi-room streaming to two HDTVs.

Maximizing Streaming

Watching streaming content on your laptop or computer is not usually the optimal atmosphere for viewing your movies and entertainment. For devices such as your television, Blu-ray disc player or game consoles that may not have built-in Wi-Fi, you can get the Universal 5-Port Wi-Fi N Ethernet Hub, which connects up to 5 Ethernet enabled devices to any Wireless-N network in your home.

Mobile Control

The latest talk in mobile technology is the convergence of your mobile devices with your digital living room. Now you can download home theater apps for your mobile iOS devices like the iPad/iPhone/iPod or Android tablets/smartphones to control your in-room experience. For a less energy draining solution, wireless Home Theater PC keyboards make a great alternative to accessing home theater content from your PC in the comfort of your living room.

What elements of your home entertainment system are most important to you? We would love to hear from you in the comments section below, on Facebook or on Twitter.

Learn About the Latest in Software Technology Trends

admin — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 16:54:10 +0000

In a previous post, we discussed the latest trends in hardware connectivity. Now, we take you on a tour of the latest tech trends in software. Be sure to let us know which software technology trends you think will be most influential in your life this year. You can tell us via a comment on this blog post or on Twitter or FaceBook. We look forward to continuing this discussion with you.

The Cloud

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Cloud computing continues to grow as more people begin to consume the technology and may not even know it. Today, it’s easier than ever to create your own cloud, either locally at your home or utilizing one of the many cloud vendors who offer armies of remote computers to do your bidding.

As we begin to produce more HD media, storage demands correspondingly must increase. There are now many options for both local and remote (cloud) storage. It is wise to take advantage of multiple backup solutions to make sure your precious memories are not lost to a hard drive failure.

Currently, the biggest fears regarding the cloud are privacy and trusting that the system storing all of your precious files stays alive.

Another major benefit of the cloud is easy accessibility of all of your data from all of your hardware devices. Everything from your computer and laptop, to non-PC devices like your Blu-ray player and game console with a simple wireless connection allows for easy access to entire data collections, essentially creating a digital command center wherever you are.

Advances in Operating Systems (OS)

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This year will see major upgrades to the software that keeps your PC running. Microsoft will release Windows 8, Apple will release Mountain Lion and Canonical will release another iteration of Ubuntu (12.10).

As the hardware and interfaces of PC’s continue to evolve, so must the software that runs them. With the rise of the iPad, touch screen computing is suddenly back in the spotlight, forcing the OS designers to update their interfaces. Windows 8, in particular is making big moves towards a touch friendly OS.

Read about the latest advancements here:

Browser Wars Continue

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As more applications move to the web, your browser stays front and center throughout most of your computing experience. In many cases the browser is also tightly integrated with the host OS as well.

While each browser can get you on the web, and for the most part provide you with an experience that the web master intended, there are enough differences to warrant some investigation before you decide on which will be your primary gateway to the Internet. Fortunately, competition is stiff and the browser vendors are constantly improving their respective experiences.

The main factors to consider are:

Does the browser work well with your OS?
Are the websites you visit or value most supported by the browser?
Do you require certain plugins/add-ons to get your work done?

Fortunately, all of the browsers are free, so cost is not a factor in your decision. You can also install all of them on your system and give them each a test drive. Note that for Internet Explorer 10, you will need a [virtual machine](http://www.vmware.com) if you are not running a Windows PC.

Take a moment to check out the latest features on the most popular browsers:

Chrome
Internet Explorer 10
Firefox
Safari

Which of the above trends will have the most impact on your life? Please take some time and share your thoughts here on the blog, on Twitter or FaceBook.

The Latest 2012 Technology in Hardware Connectivity and Beyond

admin — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 14:28:09 +0000

Now that the dust is completely settled from CES, let’s take a look at what cutting edge connectivity technologies are gaining traction. When you finish reading this post, you should come away with some ideas for deciding which technologies you should upgrade or hold on to. Have fun and be sure to let us know your thoughts on Twitter or FaceBook.

3D & HD: HDMI and Wireless

In 2011 3D TVs were all the rage at CES, while this year the excitement was noticeably dampened; mainly because of the necessity of 3D glasses and lack of content. At IOGEAR, we are working to help solve the lack of content issue by introducing a Super Switcher that allows you to convert ordinary 2D content to 3D! Be sure to follow us on Twitter or FaceBook for our launch announcement.

Check out this quick demo we performed at CES 2012 that shows how we can convert from 2D to 3D:

High Definition content, on the other hand, continues to thrive throughout many consumer devices in addition to TVs. For example, the Apple TV moved to 1080p, the new iPad sports a HD Retina display and HD TV manufacturers continue to create high quality displays. In addition, HD content is plentiful, whether it be from your cable TV provider, downloadable content or Blu-ray discs.

Today, HDMI continues to be the most convenient way to connect these devices to the various set-top boxes and video game consoles. However, many are growing tired of all of the wires required and are looking for cleaner wireless solutions.

Recently, IOGEAR created an innovative device to help distribute all of that delicious 3D & HD content to multiple HD TVs in your home, wirelessly. Check out a quick demo here:

USB 3.0

Source: EverythingUSB.com

Late last year we looked at USB 3.0, now dubbed SuperSpeed USB, and it’s current impact in the PC world. When you look at the 10x speed increase, improved power efficiency and backwards compatibility, the decision to upgrade is compelling.

For more details check out this page and the following video:

Thunderbolt

Source: Intel.com

Currently, unless you have a Mac, options are limited for taking advantage of the amazing Thunderbolt transmission speeds of up to 10Gbps. Intel is working to increase adoption by supporting Thunderbolt natively in it’s Sandy Bridge processors and introducing optical cable support. The optical cabling will allow for even greater speeds (up to 100Gbps) and allow for increased cable lengths (from 3 meters to tens of meters).

Bluetooth 4.0

Source: Bluetooth.com

The iPhone 4S was the first phone to ship with this technology, allowing for prolonged bluetooth connectivity due to the lower power consumption. And now, the iPad 3 boasts this technology as well, showing Apple’s commitment to the technology. Learn more about how bluetooth 4.0 is opening up a world of new opportunities.

If your PC is missing Bluetooth 4.0 functionality, we have made it easy for you to take advantage of the benefits with our tiny micro adaptor.

Please take some time and share your thoughts here on the blog, on Twitter or FaceBook.

Hunger Games at the Box Office: Is Your Home Theater Ready?

admin — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 17:44:58 +0000

It seems the movie season is now upon us. Young adult best seller, turned movie sensation, The Hunger Games grossed over $150 million over the weekend and marks the biggest opening for a non-sequel film. With more big blockbusters slated this spring/summertime, from the comedic and fantastical Mirror Mirror (March 30); to the action adventure flicks, The Avengers (May 4) and The Dark Knight Rises (July 20), there’s plenty to start salivating over.

Source: Fanpop.com

While lots of action will be happening at theaters this year, not everyone will be hitting the theater. With the advent of On Demand, Netflix and Redbox, it’s easier than ever to enjoy recent releases right in the comfort of your own home.

So how can you get your home theater ready for 2012? Maybe you have all the equipment, but haven’t figured out a way to give it that movie theater touch. Here are a few things to get you started.

Get the Look

Whether you are in the market for HDTV’s with 3D support or video projectors with lampless LED technology, if you have a bunch of cables running around you’re going to lose the effect. What movie theater have you been to that has a cable mess everywhere? Hopefully none. So why should your home entertainment experience be bothered by the same nuisance?

Go wireless for that sleek home theater look. With the Wireless 3D Digital Kit you can stream 1080p HD and 3D content from your HD device straight to your TV or display wirelessly, which gives you that streamlined, clean look without breaking the bank, all while saving you the hassle of drilling and rewiring the house.

Source: CNET

For those in the Apple ecosystem, the all-new Apple TV also cleans up your home entertainment area, allowing you to access all of your digital entertainment from movies to music from one small device. Designed with Apple’s Airplay technology, you can wirelessly stream 1080p HD content from your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch to your widescreen TV.

Internet Streaming

Source: Engadget

Internet video streaming is the latest and greatest way to access tons of movies and TV shows. With so many content providers (Verizon and Redbox just announced a promising partnership) providing streaming services, you can almost access any content you want with a simple Internet connection.

For devices such as your television, Blu-ray disc player or game consoles that may not have built-in Wi-Fi, you can get the Universal 5-Port Wi-Fi N Ethernet Hub, which connects up to 5 Ethernet enabled devices to any Wireless-N network in your home.

Mobile Control

Source: Electronic House

The latest talk in mobile technology is the convergence of your mobile devices with your digital living room. Apple has led the charge with various apps available to view your favorite movies and shows on the go. At the launch of the new iPad, also known as iPad 3, it was announced that there were over 585,000 apps in the app store.

Now you can download home theater apps for your mobile iOS devices like the iPad/iPhone/iPod or Android tablets/smartphones to control your in-room experience. For a less energy draining solution, wireless Home Theater PC keyboards make a great alternative to accessing home theater content from your PC in the comfort of your living room.

So what are you waiting for?
While you’re waiting for those awesome flicks this year, it seems only fitting to start looking at your own home entertainment center and start prepping for the imminent stream of blockbuster hits headed your way.

Let us know what you think. Is your home theater up to snuff? What movies are you looking forward to seeing this year?

Take Advantage of Mobile Payments Today

admin — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 17:41:00 +0000

At the Mobile World Congress, the latest in mobile technology and strategy was revealed. One interesting trend is the replacement of the cash and credit cards in your pocket with your phone. Imagine that simply being near the person you want to pay would allow you to make a monetary exchange with just a few taps on your phone. According to panelists at SXSW, this reality is only a few years away. In this post we explore the current options in mobile payment technology. So get out your phone and start making those payments

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There are 5 different types of mobile payments, according to the following info-graphic:

The most important mobile payment infographic. Ever.

Compliments of MobilePaymentsToday.com

Direct Billing

Status: Most Popular

Perhaps Apple is the catalyst for making this form of payment enter the mainstream. Today you can easily purchase items from directly inside of an app on your phone, making it easier than ever for vendors to easily bill their customers.

Mobile as the Point of Sale

Status: Readily Available

Many companies are now allowing for you to extend your phone with a physical credit card reader, effectively making your phone an efficient money collecting device.

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One solution of note is Square. Their solutions cover all of the major credit cards and works on both iOS and Android.

Mobile Platforms

Status: Readily Available

There are many ways to make and receive payments on your phone without an external hardware device. Some of the most popular methods are: Paypal, SMS and QR Codes.

Custom Payments

Status: Fragmented

Some companies, like Starbucks, choose to create their own custom applications to accept mobile payments. The downside of this trend is the need to have a different method and procedure for each vendor.

Mobile at the Point of Sale

Status: Yet to achieve mass adoption.

Near Field Communication or (NFC) is the big buzzword acronym for this type of transaction. The idea is to conduct a transaction by having your device near the other device that you wish to perform a transaction with, as seen below.

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Although NFC technology has yet to be adopted by the masses, similar RFID technology is already penetrating the mobile payment arena in Europe and Asia, as well as been widely adopted by the United States for government employees to access secure databases and restricted areas via RFID smart cards and smart card readers. It seems to be only a matter of time before technology like this breaks through as a common viable payment method.

The WSJ recently reported that retailers such as Wal-Mart and Target are teaming up with 20 others to develop a new phone-based mobile payment system to compete with those that are already in the market, namely Google Wallet and Isis. And with Visa announcing their solution at the Mobile World Congress, we could be very close to this technology becoming a common reality in our every day lives.

If you would like to explore deeper, we suggest you take a look at the Mobile Payments Wikipedia entry.

Have you made a payment from your phone before? How was the experience? Please take some time and share your thoughts here on the blog, on Twitter or FaceBook.

Who Should Buy an iPad 3?

admin — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 13:30:39 +0000

It’s almost time. The iPad 3 should be on shelves in a matter of weeks, with an announcement next week. Now that you have decided to get yourself a tablet, will you go with Apple or one of the many alternatives? For some, the decision will be easy due to brand loyalty, specific feature requirements and/or price, but for the rest of us that are tempted by the lure of the iPad, the answer to “Who Should Buy an iPad 3?” is not so simple. This post will help you gather the right information to make the best choice for yourself.

(Photo Source)

The first question to ask yourself is: “What scenarios do I see myself taking advantage of a tablet?” Answer this question without looking at any technical specs or apps. The goal here is to come up with a list of scenarios where a tablet device would improve your life. Note, I said tablet, since the answers to this question may immediately point you to a different tablet or help you come to the conclusion that you don’t need any tablet.

The answers to the above question will set a reference point as you explore the following questions.

What is your budget? Depending upon this answer, you will have different options, both outside of the Apple ecosystem and within the various Apple iPad models going all the way back to the original iPad. You can now immediately rule out several options.

How much battery life do you need? Do you anticipate being in situations where you will not have access to an outlet for a long period of time? If you have extraordinary battery requirements, you may need to look into external power solutions.

Do you always need Internet connectivity? This answer will help you decide whether you need the 3G (possibly 4G) model or WiFi only. Though, even with the Wi-Fi only you can achieve always on Internet connectivity with a MiFi, though that option may be more expensive and less convenient since you will have to carry another device and keep it powered up.

Are there specific applications you need? For example, will you be interacting with Microsoft Office documents regularly on your tablet? Once you answer these questions, you can explore the app stores for Apple, Android, Microsoft and Blackberry to see if you are covered. Take the time to read the reviews for the apps you need.

Finally, I suggest you review the following articles for further food for thought:

Have you decided? If not, what new information do you need? Let us know here on the blog, on Twitter or FaceBook.

Learn How to Maximize Your Smart Phone’s Battery Life

admin — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 13:30:56 +0000

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Congratulations Apple, Google, RIM and Microsoft! You have re-created the corded phone! I’m speaking in jest of course, but the reality is that far too often we need to have our phones connected to some type of power source or else run the risk of running out of juice just at that critical moment when you actually have to make a call.

While there are some people who can go a whole day without recharging, most smart phone users have no such luxury. The problem is further pronounced during travel where you may not have convenient access to a power supply throughout the day. Plus, do you really want to stand next to some random power outlet for hours waiting for your phone to charge?

Fortunately, since the problem is so common, there are many solutions available. Here we will provide some ideas from both a hardware and software perspective.

The first place to start is at the software level. Often, you may have unneeded programs running in the background draining valuable battery life. Here is a roundup of software based solutions for each type of device:

If you don’t have an Apple device, you should purchase a few backup batteries from your vendor of choice. It might come in handy to have one or two spare batteries tucked away for emergencies. Just make sure to keep those spares charged.
Invest in extra power adaptors for your car, place of work, and at home. That way, wherever you are and not using your phone, you can be getting your phone juiced up.

Finally, your friends at IOGEAR have several external battery solutions. These are especially valuable for iOS devices, since their batteries are not easily replaced. You may also find that having a few of these devices around make it unnecessary to buy backup batteries.

GearPower High Capacity Mobile Power Station

When you need maximum power and want the simplicity of a USB interface, this is your solution. With 1A and 2.1A USB charging ports and 6600 mAh of reliable power this device has you covered.

GearPower – Portable Battery for Mobile Devices

If portability is your main concern, this is device you want. In fact, you probably want to have several, especially at that price.

iPhone Only Options

GearPower – Portable Battery Pack for iPhone

These compact battery packs are perfect for on the go travel where space is a concern. We suggest you keep several of these around at strategic locations in case of an emergency. For example, your glovebox, purse and/or drawer.

GearPower – Leather Case for iPhone with Built-in Battery Pack

This battery pack integrates with your phone to double as a stylish leather case.

GearPower Edge Rechargeable Protective Case Combo for iPhone

In addition to providing a nice level of protection and great battery backup power, this device has a cool kickstand for your viewing convenience.

Do you have a horror story about running out of battery during the worst possible time? We want to hear your story! Share here on the blog, on Facebook or on Twitter.

IOGEAR at CES 2012 as Told Through Social Media

admin — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 00:47:11 +0000