IOGEAR

Make Your Car a “No Thumbs and Hands-free Zone”

2010-08-27T16:19:41Z

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.

Achieve Wireless Independence with Your Home Entertainment System

2010-08-12T15:42:58Z

In July, we celebrated our independence, and now with the 2010 CEDIA Expo coming up and our Wireless HD Kit poised to win an award for best new product, we believe the day of independence from wires in your home entertainment setup is not too far away. In the mean time, we must be content with reducing as many wires as possible. In this week’s post we provide some ideas on how to minimize your wired footprint.

Wireless HD Kit

The centerpiece of most home entertainment setups is the HDTV, surrounded by various devices, which become the primary source of wired clutter.

The Wireless HD Kit allows you to take up to four devices from up to 100 feet away and wirelessly connect them to your HDTV. Then, using a single remote, you can easily switch between the four devices.

HDMI Switch

It is becoming typical for a home entertainment system to contain multiple HDMI connected devices, such as Blu-ray players, VCR’s, video game consoles (Xbox360, Playstation 3, Wii) and various types of streaming media players.

An HDMI switch allows you avoid connecting all these devices individually to your HDTV, and instead you can connect your devices to the HDMI switch and run a single cable to your HDTV, with the ability to switch among your various devices with a single remote.

Wireless AV Kit

If you have not upgraded your HDTV to one of the new Internet enabled models, you will need a PC to stream Internet content. This would normally mean you have to put your PC near the HDTV so that you can run the cable from your PC to TV.

The award winning Wireless AV Kit allows you to cut that cord and move your PC up to 30 feet away from your HDTV. You get 720p video streaming with wirelessly distributed audio with a standard 3.5mm TRS stereo audio connector.

Now that you have achieved a new level of wireless freedom, the next question will be – what will I do with all those unneeded cables and cords? We suggest you consider recycling them or giving them to a friend who is still stuck using old component cables.

Do you still have a nest of wires around your home entertainment center? How do you plan to de-clutter? Please take some time and share your thoughts here on the blog, on Twitter or FaceBook. Be sure to check out Twitter Deals feed for extra savings, and don’t forget to get even more value on any IOGEAR purchase at Club IOGEAR.

Best New Products – Keep Your Eyes Peeled for these Gadgets

2010-08-05T18:47:19Z

Next month, CEDIA will hold their annual tradeshow for installers, specialty resellers and distributors to showcase the hottest trends in home electronics. To honor the cream of the crop at this years show, the CEDIA panel of judges has just announced the finalists to the Manufacturers’ Excellence Award for ‘Best New Product’. We don’t like to boast here, but we can’t help but proclaim our Wireless HD Kit has made it to the top of the list!

We are going against some hefty competition, as you can see from Electronic House’s 35 Best New Products slideshow. However, there will be ten winners from the ‘Best New Products’ category, and we are hopeful our Wireless HD Kit will make the cut. This sucker packs quite the punch with its seamless multimedia streaming and visually appealing design. This product solution is ideal for any retrofit jobs or difficult to run cables type jobs. Check it out today!

As we continue to innovate, finding convenient and environmentally friendly new ways of incorporating multimedia content into our entertainment setups is key. Our AVIOR line focuses on A/V solutions and we are continuing to add to the line with some great results. The Wireless HD Kit is just one component of our entire line.

Have you used any of the products from IOGEAR’s AVIOR line in your home? If so, what are your thoughts on their performance? Any input on new items you’d like to see included?

Until next time, this is this IOGEAR team signing out!

Back-to-School Tech Gadgets – Don’t Let the Dog Eat These!

2010-08-03T15:29:13Z

With the start of the school year looming, now’s the time get up-to-speed on the latest gadgets and tech solutions that will make the learning process and getting that A+ in Advanced Calculus and Victorian Literature all the more possible, we hope!

The days of the pocket calculator and the green screen desktop computer are long gone; technology has delivered significant improvements over the years. Not only can they help streamline your homework, but they’ll also show your peers that you’re tech-savvy and take school seriously.

Here at IOGEAR, we like to take learning to the next level. Take a gander at some of our products that can help you leave archaic ways of doing homework in the dust:

50-in-1 Pocket Card Reader / Writer

Fitting easily in your pocket for easy transporting, this pocket card reader instantly transfers files from your memory cards to your Mac or PC without the need for additional adapters. It’s compatible with all popular memory card formats.

Spill-Resistant Desktop

Perfect for daily use, this spill-resistant, ergonomic keyboard and mouse combo will put your wrists and fingers at ease with its tactile feel. To top it off, the optical mouse provides top-notch accuracy over most surfaces and requires minimal hand movement.

Digital Scribe

Capture your handwriting on paper onto your computer, instantaneously. The pen uses refillable ink and writes on paper, allowing handwritten notes, memos or drawings to be stored on your computer.

This is just a glimpse into the array of solutions in our product line that will make school fun and exciting again, because we miss the days of finger painting, snacks and nap time.

Now through the end of August, we are offering new IOGEAR club members a 30% savings on our long line of products and non-members a 25% storewide savings.

What technology improvements have made the learning process easier for you over the years?

Cheers from the IOGEAR team!

The Power of the Tech Critic

2010-07-21T16:21:52Z

These past two weeks in techland proved that launching a new product is not for the fainthearted.

Apple may not have counted last week as one of their favorites – not only did the iPhone 4’s antenna problems reach fever pitch, but Consumer Reports announced that they would not be recommending this newest version of the phone due to antenna problems.

Although some are asking for a recall of the iPhone 4, Apple came across confident and well equipped to weather the storm and held a press conference announcing their solution to the antenna issue: a protective case. They’ll reimburse previous purchasers and supply them to new iPhone 4 buyers in the months ahead.

However, with a dip in stock price and even a few pending lawsuits, all signs point to one thing – in this digital age, the online critic has more clout than ever.

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Kmart certainly seems to have adopted this theory. In its newest venture, brick and mortar Kmart stores are displaying printouts of online reviews alongside the video games on sale. Whether it’s a violent shoot-em-up, suitable for children or a cerebral brainteaser, the review are in – and once again, the online critic plays an important part in shaping our buying decisions.

Here at IOGEAR, we’re excited to work closely with online reviewers, critics and experts – whether they’re seasoned pros or new bloggers.

Our newest venture, Club IOGEAR, is designed to harness the tech community and to reward our online shoppers for their business by offering redeemable points for each purchase. As this online community grows, we’ll be looking to our Club IOGEAR members, as well as our Facebook and Twitter communities to let us know what they think of our current products – and what they’d like to see next!

What do YOU think of the latest Apple controversy? What online sources and opinions do YOU always check in with before clicking the purchase button?

Cheers
The IOGEAR team

Is an Infrared World in our Future?

2010-07-15T17:35:25Z

Here at IOGEAR, we keep a keen eye on our changing workstation. From multiple screens to paper-thin displays, this isn’t your father’s office any more – and here’s the latest news to emerge from the tech grapevine.

Infrared developments have been heating up in our technological world recently, most notably in Microsoft’s upcoming Kinect for the Xbox360. The motion sensor in this newest gaming console gauges a player’s movement with a variety of tools, including an infrared sensor.

However, the latest infrared news development is of particular interest for workstations across the country. MIT’s Fluid Interfaces Group, led by research assistant and PhD candidate Pranav Mistry, have developed the latest advancement in infrared technology with the ‘Mouseless’, an invisible mouse that tracks a user’s movements and projects them on a computer screen in the form of a cursor, just like a real mouse.

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CNET showcased the ‘Mouseless’ in a recent post, which includes a quirky video that starts off with none other than Warner Bros’ Jerry of Tom and Jerry fame.

As you can see from the post, the ‘Mouseless’ is merely a prototype and not yet available to consumers. However, we here at IOGEAR are excited to see it come to life and to work with a new generation of IT gadgets for the home and office workstation.

Our own selection of KVM Switches allow you to focus on only one keyboard, monitor and mouse when controlling multiple computers – and we’re consistently working on new and updated switches to work seamlessly with the latest and greatest technologies.

Would YOU like to be able to control multiple computers – using nothing but the touch of your finger? Let us know what you think!

Cheers
The IOGEAR team

Spruce Up Your Home Theater on a Budget

2010-07-13T16:28:07Z

In today’s economy, the average consumer’s budget may not afford a complete home theatre transformation, but there are some affordable solutions that will make noticeable improvements. Today’s topic explores ways to upgrade without the need to downgrade your wallet size.

As always, we appreciate your feedback and experiences, please take the time to share with us here in the blog comments, on Facebook or on Twitter.

HDTV

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Most likely you already have an HDTV as the centerpiece of your home entertainment setup, so the first question will be: Should I upgrade my TV for a bigger one, a version with built-in Internet connectivity, or even to a 3D TV?

Top consumer tech sites, CNet and PCWorld, have great guides that help you decide on an upgrade, but for those satisfied with their current TV, they can opt to save some cash with using the best cables where possible, usually in the form of HDMI. Too many HDMI devices and not enough ports? An HDMI switch is your best solution.

PC to TV

Media Centers let you extend your PC experience into the living room, and might just be the most impactful upgrade in terms of overall experience and streaming limitless content. Imagine having your entire computer’s contents and the Internet available on your HDTV!

At IOGEAR we believe the PC to TV experience is further enhanced by going wireless, and we make that possible with our award winning Wireless AV/Kit. You can always opt to set up your computer near the TV and use a wireless keyboard with a laser trackball as your remote control – a more affordable option.

Gaming

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If you are a gamer it’s probable that you may have more than one gaming system, such as an XBox360, Nintendo Wii and PS3. If so, you may not be able to access all of these devices on your HDTV due to only one HDMI input. Solve your gaming fiasco with an HDMI switch, allowing you to connect more than one console.

DVD / Blu-Ray

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If you are thinking of upgrading from DVD to Blu-Ray, there are many options on the market right now and the prices are reasonable. As an added bonus, newer versions usually include Internet connectivity and the ability to stream Internet media, such as streaming movies from Netflix.com, directly to your HDTV. If you are having a difficult time deciding what Blu-Ray device to go with, check out the Consumer Reports online guide.

You may have a DVD player along with a Blu-Ray player, but you want to just use just one HDMI input on our TV,again, the HDMI switch is the key for any multitasking living room.

Remote Controls

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Declutter your Mount Everest pile of remotes with a universal remote. Your remote control solution will depend on your particular setup, but one worthy goal is to replace your stash of controls with one or two, and possibly a keyboard if you have a PC to TV solution.

If you don’t want to buy yet another remote, utilize the instructions equipped with your cable company’s, as you may find that it can ultimately replace a few of the remotes you have on your coffee table by working with several devices.

Sound Systems

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There are many things to consider when opting for an audio system upgrade. Often, today’s home audio systems include functionality that complement or replace equipment you already have, or even offer iPod/iPhone connectivity and varying levels of wireless abilities.

We suggest you head on over to AVGuide.com to weigh your options. Once there, take a gander at their Surround Sound Speakers Buyer’s guide, a free PDF download with over 100 pages of useful information.

Have tips for helpful upgrade ideas? Take some time and share your thoughts here on the blog, Twitter or Facebook. Keep an eye out at our Twitter Deals feed for extra savings, and don’t forget to get even more value at Club IOGEAR.

Cheers from the IOGEAR team!

Keeping the Green Tech Revolution Close to Home

2010-07-06T00:31:53Z

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.

Check Out the New IOGEAR eStore!

2010-07-02T18:37:25Z

To celebrate the launch of our new eStore, take advantage of a 25% promo code (promoi25), but hurry, it’s only valid for the month of July!

The first thing you will notice is a brand new look and feel with an optimized user experience. The goal is to make your experience shopping with IOGEAR fantastic! In addition to the cosmetic changes, we have tightly integrated with Club IOGEAR to allow for automatic registration.

What?!? You have not heard about the new Club IOGEAR?!? Well, head on over to this blog post for all the exciting details!

Be sure to tell your friends & family and share via Twitter and Facebook. We would also appreciate your feedback to help us on our quest to provide you with the best possible IOGEAR experience.

Get Rewarded With Club IOGEAR!

2010-07-02T18:32:35Z

With Club IOGEAR you can cash in on your IOGEAR purchases for points towards exciting rewards ranging from music & books to gourmet food & travel and even hot new gadgets! But purchasing IOGEAR products is not the only way to earn points, you can also earn points by playing games and entering promotions with no purchase necessary.

Do you still want more? Well you’ve got it! Join today and you will receive 100 bonus points just for signing up PLUS a free game token! We will also be providing exclusive bonuses and discount offers to Club IOGEAR members, which include more prizes, extra points and 30% off savings at the Shop IOGEAR e-store in July!

If you can’t tell already, we are super excited to offer these added benefits to our valued customers. So what are you waiting for! Take a moment to register and Join Club IOGEAR today!

For the latest updates, follow us on Twitter and Facebook.