Telecommuting Essentials

So, what are the bare essentials for effective telecommuting? I just compiled a list (probably not complete) of some essential items for telecommuting or work-at-home success.

The entire article can be seen here:
http://hubpages.com/hub/The_Bare_Essentials_For_Effective_Telecommuting

Check it out and be sure to comment on your home office essentials.

Web Worker Daily has a post today on the growing popularity of Internet browsing on mobile devices. They also cite a recent T-Mobile study that finds many people use their mobile Internet connections to access the Web while at work when employers restrict Internet usage. Interestingly the study also found that 15% of respondents admit to surfing the Web on their mobile while in the bathroom...

Jeremy Wagstaff at Loose Wire Blog offers this thought on the trend toward mobile browsing:

"History will find it weird, not that we connect to the Web on the john with a device once designed to make phone calls, but that for 15 years we had to do that via a big hunk of metal, plastic and wires sitting in the middle of what used to be a big open space called a desk." (Loose Wire Blog)

Take a minute to check out both articles if you have the time. They provide some interesting thought on where the industry is going.

Yoggie Pico USB Hardware Firewall Offers Portable Mobile Security

Yoggie's Pico USB hardware firewall makes mobile security easy. The Pico Personal ($179) and Pico Pro ($199) are Linux-powered, USB hardware firewall systems for your laptop.

The Pico Pro packs 13 different security applications into the USB key to protect your computer and data while you are away from home or the office. Since all information is scanned for security threats on the USB hardware firewall before being passed on to your computer you can rest a little easier while away from your office firewall. The Pico Pro also promises to speed up your laptop performance by removing the firewall from your computer.

Visit www.yoggie.com for more information.

Google Calendar On Your Mobile Phone

Google has announced a mobile phone version of the Google Calendar. Now Google Calendar users can access their calendar from anywhere as well as adding events on the fly. Best of all, Google Calendar automatically syncs any changes made through the mobile application so your Calendar always remains up to date. Upcoming events are displayed with the associated information as well as a link to a map.

Visit http://mobile.google.com/calendar/ from your mobile browser to check out the new mobile Google Calendar.

This latest feature may just convince me to abandon one of Google's competitors.

Wiredness Online Image Manipulation

Wiredness may just turn image manipulation upside down. Wiredness brings image manipulation software to the web in one ridiculously easy-to-use application. Wiredness, available at www.wiredness.com offers image retrieval from the web or your local computer with save options from your local computer to Flickr or Picasa.

Wiredness takes a lot of the aggravation out of simple image manipulation. I suspect I will be doing a majority of my image manipulation on Wiredness from now on. This also means image manipulation can be accomplished while away from home.

Stealth LPC-450 MiniPC - No Larger Than A Book

Stealth Computer Corporation now offers the Stealth LPC-450 Mini PC with Intel DuoCore processor. Stealth compares the LPC-450 to the size of a hardcover novel (5.7 x 9.9 x 1.65 inches).

The LPC-450 is designed to run on 12 volt DC power but also ships with an AC power adapter. The shipping weight is less than eight pounds. Stealth offers the LPC-450 with either Microsoft Windows or Linux.

This could be an interesting little mini for those with a need for mobile computing power.

[via Engadget]

Buy A Computer For Less Than A Tank Of Gasoline

You know times are changing when you can buy a new computer for less than you would spend filling the gas tank in your SUV! Forbes has an interesting article on their website about the rapidly declining price of entry-level computers.

Andy Greenberg, the article's author, asks an excellent question: "What do we get from all the bells and whistles piled into today's PCs? Not enough to justify the $1,000 price tag the industry hopes we'll go for." I have asked myself that question many times recently. While all of the features of a typical, new $1,000 desktop are great, the features are typically far more than I need. I have come to the conclusion that I could do 99.x% of my computing on a Palm TX with less cost and much less weight and bulk. As Greenberg notes in the Forbes article, most people need basic office applications, e-mail and Internet access. Period.

NorhTec offers a line of computers with single-unit prices starting at $120. Discounted rates are available for bulk purchases. NorhTec's inexpensive MicroClient does not include a monitor and is designed to boot off flash memory or a USB memory device. Still, it is hard to imagine going wrong for that price.

[via Gizmodo]

Banks Expanding Mobile Phone Banking Options

Several large banks are announcing expanded account access and services for mobile phone users. CitiBank and Bank of America are both rolling out new services for their tech savvy customers.

The new banking programs allow customers to access their account information, pay bills and transfer funds all from their mobile phone handset.

My bank has offered limited mobile phone banking for several years. However, the ability to pay bills and transfer funds from a mobile phone would indeed be a very convenient option for those of us that travel frequently.

The NY Times has a full article on this new trend.

Protecting Your Data While Traveling

Protecting private or sensitive data is something that everyone should be concerned with today. It seems hardly a week goes by without news reports of another stolen laptop with sensitive or confidential data on it.

I have compiled a large list of tips to help you protect your data while you are traveling. You can view the complete list here: http://hubpages.com/hub/Protecting_Your_Data_While_Traveling

Finding WiFi Hotspots

Have you ever wondered how to go about finding the best WiFi hotpots, particularly when you are away from home? I just published an article on this topic at another site. The link is:

http://hubpages.com/hub/Top_5_Tips_To_Finding_WiFi_Hotspots

Mobile GPS In A Very Small Package

The new Garmin Mobile 10 offers mobile GPS that you can take on the road with you. The unit in your car is great - as long as you are driving your car.

With the new Garmin Mobile 10 you can connect the GPS to your mobile phone, PDA or laptop computer via Bluetooth. Once connected the Mobile 10 GPS unit wirelessly transmits location information and directions to the paired device.

The Garmin Mobile 10 GPS is currently available online but should be in stores soon. Garmin lists the retail price of the Mobile 10 at $170.

[via NY Times]

Popup Joystick Game Controller For Your Mobile Phone

Apparently someone has designed a popup joystick game controller for mobile phones. It looks like no manufacturers have picked up on it yet though. An idea like this could potentially revolutionize mobile phone gaming though! Lets face it, the standard mobile phone keypads just don't cut it for playing games on.

[via Gizmodo]

Ubuntu Linux Laptops From System76 - Gazelle Series

Looking for a new Linux laptop on a budget? You need look no further than System76. System 76 offers a full line of laptops and desktops running the popular Ubuntu Linux operating system. System76 offers laptops that meet a variety of needs and start as low as $699.

The System76 Gazelle Series laptops offer a ready-equipped linux laptop at a real bargain.

The System76 Gazelle Value laptops starts at $699 with features like:

• Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo options
• Display: 14” Widescreen WXGA (1280X800)
• Graphics: Intel GMA 950 224 MB Integrated Graphics
• Sound: Intel High Definition Audio
• Networking: 10/100/1000 (LAN)
• Wireless: Intel 802.11 abg
• Card Reader: 4 in 1 Card Reader
• Expansion: PCMCIA 2.1 supports one Type II
• Ports: VGA, 4x USB 2.0, Mic In, Headphone Out, FireWire 1394B, S-Video
• Battery: 6 Cell Lithium Ion
• Battery Life: 3 Hours
• Dimensions: 13.15" x 9.9" x 1.4" (W x D x H)
• Weight: 5.5 lbs
  

The System76 Gazelle Performance laptops start at $999 and include features like:

• Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo options
• Display: 14” Widescreen WXGA (1280X800)
• Graphics: 128 MB nVidia Graphics
• Sound: Intel High Definition Audio
• Networking: 10/100/1000 (LAN)
• Wireless: Intel 802.11 abg
• Card Reader: 4 in 1 Card Reader
• Expansion: PCMCIA 2.1 supports one Type II
• Ports: VGA, 4x USB 2.0, Mic In, Headphone Out, FireWire 1394B, S-Video
• Battery: 6 Cell Lithium Ion
• Battery Life: 3 Hours
• Dimensions: 13.15" x 9.9" x 1.4" (W x D x H)
• Weight: 5.5 lbs

Visit http://system76.com for more information on their Linux laptop line of computers.

New BlackBerry 8800 Mobile Phone

Gizmodo reports that a new BlackBerry 8800 is scheduled to be released February 20.

Check out Gizmodo for more information.

Microsoft Zune Phone To Compete With iPhone

CrunchGear reports on a tip they received that Microsoft is planning to compete with Apple on the iPhone. The Zune phone will be a smartphone that integrates with the Zune Marketplace and with the Xbox 360. CrunchGear says the Zune phone release date is planned for the holiday 2007 season.

Check out the complete article here.

SunVisor TV/DVD Player For Your Car

Now you can watch TV while you drive ride in the car thanks to this 7" TV/DVD Player that conveniently replaces the standard sun visor in your car. The visor is designed to mount on the passenger side of the vehicle.

"The Sun Visor Theater comes ready to install into your favorite vehicle. Be ready to transport your family through a whole new world or entertainment on your next trip to the family get together. Your Sun Visor Theater comes with cables for power, USB, and antenna connections. There is even a remote control to manage playback or use the touch screen feature of the LCD."

The sun visor TV/DVD player is available from Gadget Universe for $299.95.

[via Boing Boing]

Windows Vista Laptop For $500

Walmart is offering Everex laptops with Vista pre-installed for as low as $498. The 15.4" StepNote VA4101M lists at just $518. I would have to be skeptical of any $500 Vista-equipped laptop (I mean, the performance just has to suck!) but this might be an option if you are traveling and just want a basic Internet/e-mail/word processing machine for on the road. At $500 you won't have too worry too much about a few bumps or dings along the way.

The vital statistics are:

• Operating System: Windows Vista Home Basic
• Graphics: VIA Chrome9 HC IGP
• Audio: HD Audio with 1 x Headphone/Line-Out Jack, 1 x Microphone/Line-In Jack
• Wireless LAN: IEEE 802.11b/g
• Ethernet: 10/100Mbps LAN
• Fax/Modem: Built-In 56k v.92 Fax/Modem with 1 x RJ-11 Telephone Jack
• I/O Ports: 1 x DB 15-pin VGA Port, 3 x USB 2.0 Ports, 1 x DC-in Jack
• Pointing Device: 2-Button Glide Pad
• Software: Windows Vista Home Basic, CyberLink Power DVD, CyberLink Power2Go, Norton Internet Security
• Battery: Rechargeable Lithium-Ion
• AC-DC Adapter: 65W AC Adapter
• Measurements: 14.1" (L) x 10.7" (W) x 1.5" (H)
• Weight: 5.9lbs

End Of Life For Palm LifeDrive PDA

Palm has apparently decided to pull the plug on on their LifeDrive Mobile Manager. The LifeDrive is "no longer available at Palm Store" according to Palm's website; other websites are also reporting on the impending demise. LifeDrive is still available in some retail stores, however.

Palm's decision to stop production of the LifeDrive on top of the recent announcement that the Palm OS will be phased out certainly brings plenty of uncertainty to the PDA market.

The New Zink Inkless Printer Is Small Enough To Carry In A Pocket

With camera phone popularity exploding all that we needed was a convenient way to print those priceless pictures on the road. Zink delivers the solution with the Zink inkless printer system. The Zink printer is small enough to fit in a shirt pocket yet prints in full color. The Zink printer uses heat to develop the special paper that is embedded with dye crystals. This eliminates the need for a messy ink cartridge or ribbon.

The official website, www.zink.com, will be online January 31, 2007.

[via Gizmodo]

Seagate DAVE Technology May Help Usher In Mobile Revolution

Seagate officially announced the development of their Digital Audio Video Experience (DAVE) technology. The device provides 10 - 20 GB of wireless storage in a package that is described as being the size of "a centimeter-thick credit card." Seagate's DAVE is designed to work with mobile phones to facilitate downloading and storing audio and video entertainment files. The 10 GB DAVE will hold an estimated 2,500 songs or 21 hours of video. DAVE utilizes WiFi and Bluetooth connections to achieve wireless data transmission.

"Using products based on the DAVE storage platform, consumers will now be able to store all of their mobile media on one device for access when, where, and how they want. The DAVE technology lets consumers combine their audio and video files downloaded through mobile networks with entertainment and other content side-loaded from PCs or other devices for a fully customized, personalized mobile experience." (From Seagate Press Release)

Reportedly the DAVE will retail for less than $200.

View the entire Seagate press release here.

[via Gizmodo]

FlareSafe Personal Safety Device - Travel Safety In One Convenient Package

The FlareSafe Personal Safety Device is an all-in-one personal safety tool for traveling. The FlareSafe looks like a rugged flashlight but actually houses a LED light, distress alarm and smoke detector. Pack your FlareSafe in your bag and you never have to worry if the smoke alarms in your hotel room work (if the room even has smoke alarms). The FlareSafe weighs just 8 ounces and is water resistant. The FlareSafe includes batteries and comes with a three-year warranty.

"The inhabitants of this office have seen numerous countries, lived in a few, and even had a couple of narrow escapes. So who better to design some handy devices that will stand up to the rigours of travel, and that will also prove useful in a crisis?" (Flarebrands Website)

FlareBrands, a UK-based company, manufactures personal travel safety products, including the FlareSafe. The FlareSafe can be purchased online at www.flarebrands.com.

[via Gizmodo]

Will You Be Watching Mobile TV On Your Cell Phone Soon

The Mobile DTV Alliance recently released a whitepaper arguing that millions of Americans will pay $20 per month for mobile TV service on their cell phones. The argument includes correlating evidence from other European countries that have already rolled out widespread mobile TV service.

Ars Technica has a good article that considers the economic and technological considerations surrounding wide-spread mobile TV.

[via Ars Technica]

DIY Credit Card Memory Card Holder

Did you ever wish you had a more convenient way to carry spare memory cards? Instructables has an interesting tutorial on creating a credit card-sized wallet holder for SD cards.

Simply use a junk credit card (we all receive them by mail regularly) to cut slots for the memory card to fit in. The cards fit snugly and remain in place when you put your new memory card holder into your wallet.

View the complete tutorial at www.instructables.com.


[via Lifehacker]

Radio-Locator Finds Unused FM Frequencies For Your Use

Radio-Locator.com allows you to search radio stations in your area. However, Radio-Locator also allows you to search for unused frequencies as well. If you have ever tried to use an FM transmitter to play your mp3s through your car stereo you know how cool this information would be. I gave up last time I was traveling.

Just log on to www.radio-locator.com and search for unused frequencies in the area you need.

[via Lifehacker]

Motorola Pedal-Powered Charger For Your Mobile Phone

Motorola displayed a pedal-powered mobile phone recharger at the 2007 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. The charger unit mounts on bicycle handlebars and recharges a mobile phone while you pedal.

Motorola apparently developed this charger primarily for developing countries with sporadic electric supplies. However, I suspect there could be a real market for this in the US as well. Cycling is a growing sport in the US and keeping cell phones, mp3 players and GPS units charged while cycling is a challenge.

Motorola plans to release the bicycle charger soon. It will be interesting to see how versatile the charger is and how fast the bicycle charger is adapted to other uses.

[via Gizmodo]

Take A Bite Of This Apple Phone

Apparently the iPhone is not a completely new idea for the folks at Apple. MyiPhone.com has copies of a US patent application Apple made in the early 1980s for a mobile phone. The original design showed this lovely design - an apple with a bite taken out of it. It certainly does not look as spiffy as the new iPhone.

Apparently good sense prevailed at Apple 20 years ago. I suspect they would have had to give away 18 months of service to get anyone to use this phone!

You can read the entire article and see lots more pictures at www.myiphone.com.

[via Gizmodo]

DIY Mini-ITX Laptop

I have thought for a while now that I would like to build my own laptop (or at least portable) computer. Despite hunting around quite a bit I could not find any real resources to guide me on pulling it off. Until yesterday (January 25). Torquil Harkness recently decided to build his own portable computer - and succeeded. Harkness was nice enough to photograph and document the project and then send the story in to Mini-ITX.com.

Harkness was looking for an all-around portable computer at a decent price. When he could not find what he was looking for he built his own. The custom-made aluminum case houses a 2GHz processor with 1GB RAM. Harkness was able to build exactly what he wanted at a reasonable price; best of all, the computer is easily upgradable - not something that can be said of most laptop computers.

Check out www.mini-itx.com to read the full story with photos.

[via Gizmodo and BoingBoing]

Car Computers Take Mobile Computing On The Road

The VoomPC-2 Car PC is a computer designed to run in your car. The case can be mounted out of sight in the trunk or under the seat. The VoomPC-2 features user-selected power shutdown settings and the VoomPC-2 will power off automatically when your car battery begins to drain. The manufacturer states that the VoomPC-2 will run virtually any operating system, including Windows and Linux.

The specs for the VoomPC-2 are:

• Jetway 1.5GhZ X86 VIA C7 CPU
• M1-ATX car PC PSU
• VoomPC-2 car PC enclosure
• PCMCIA & Compact Flash Reader
• Slim Cd-ROM to 2.5" IDE Adapter
• Cable harness included

The VoomPC-2 is available as a barebones system for $395; the VoomPC-2 enclosure is available for $119.95. More information is available at www.mini-box.com.

[via Engadget]

TellMe Mobile Version Provides Voiced-Activated 411 Service

TellMe recently launched a new mobile application providing directory services to mobile phone users. TellMe is a downloadable Java application that makes obtaining a business phone or address simple. After you provide your search information to a voice-activated menu TellMe returns the phone number, a map and driving directions. TellMe mobile service is offered free of charge.

For more details on TellMe visit their website at www.tellme.com or read a detailed review at TechCrunch.

New Study on Cell Phone Usage and Cancers

Researchers continue to study any possible links between cell phone usage and brain cancers. Technology website Ars Technica has a review on the most recent study conducted on this subject.

"The latest revisitation comes in the form of a set of studies coming out of a collaborative data gathering effort in a number of Scandanavian countries, as well as southern England. The researchers enlisted a set of subjects with various forms of brain and nervous system tumors localized to the head, matched them to control subjects, and interviewed all of them regarding their cell phone habits." (Ars Technica)

The complete article discussing this latest study is available at Ars Technica.

Hacking Your Old Cell Phone

Stuck with a plain, simple cell phone for a while longer? Wish you could use some of the frills that Blackberry or Treo users enjoy? The NY Times has an article today (January 25) with tips and tricks for tweaking your old cell phone to gain some features that were not included.

Suggestions include mobile e-mail applications, rss feed readers, map programs and remote access to Skype and Microsoft Outlook on your home computer.

The entire article can be read at the NY Times.

TravelScan Pro 600 Simplex Document and ID Scanner

Ambir Technology makes a portable, USB-powered document scanner allowing you to easily scan documents while away from the office. The sheet-fed TravelScan Pro 600 weighs in at just 12 ounces and is only 11.1 inches long. The TravelScan Pro 600 scans in color or black and white with a maximum resolution of 600 dpi. The scanner is also designed to scan wider, laminated documents like driver licenses and other id cards.

If you need a portable scanner the TravelScan Pro 600 may be worth looking at. Ambir lists the retail price at $149.95 for this model. Several other models are also available. Visit www.ambir.com for more information on Ambir's line of scanners.

OtterBox Laptop Cases - Mobile Waterproof Protection

OtterBox has been making great waterproof and crushproof protective cases for some time. Now OtterBox is offering a Laptop case. Like other OtterBox cases the OtterBox Laptop case is crush-safe and waterproof.

"OtterBox Laptop cases protect your PC like no other case available. Rugged case design that is so strong you can stand on the case without doing any damage. Bet you can't do that with those soft cases! And of course, it wouldn't be an OtterBox case without being waterproof. The case allows you to plug the computer in without even taking it out of the case. OtterBox Laptop Cases can also be used to protect Slates, Tablets, Ultra Mobile PCs, and Convertible Tablet PCs. These cases DO NOT allow for waterproof usability." (OtterBox Website)

The OtterBox Laptop case will accomodate laptop computers with screens up to 15 inches. The OtterBox website lists a retail price of $169.95 for the laptop case. Considering the price of a new laptop that may be money well spent.

Visit www.otterbox.com for more information.

Newsday.com Review of Latest Electronics

Newsday.com reviewed some of the most exciting consumer electronics products on display at the recent 2007 Consumer Electronics Show.

Featured products that were reviewed include:

• HP TouchSmart Desktop 1Q770 PC
• Verizon Wireless V Cast Mobile TV and Phones by Samsung and LG
• Sandisk Sansa Connect Portable Music Player
• Sony HDR-HC7 High-Definition Camcorder
• LG BH-100 Combo HD DVD/Blu-Ray Disc Player
• Logitech Harmony 1000 Mulit-Tasking Remote Control
• Apple TV

Check out the entire article with detailed reviews of each of these consumer electronics products at Newsday.com .

Mobile Gear Mounting Hardware for Your Vehicle

How many times have you dropped your cell phone on the car floor only to have the phone end up under the seat? How about trying to balance your laptop on your knee while straddling the steering wheel? Arkon Resources, Inc. makes a large line of vehicle mounting hardware for mobile electronics.

Arkon makes mounting equipment for:

• GPS Devices
• PDAs (universal and powered docking)
• Mobile Phones
• Satellite Radio Receivers
• Sony PSP
• Laptop Computers
• iPods
• DVD and CD Players

Arkon products can be purchased directly from the company website or from a variety of resellers. Visit http://www.arkon.com/ for more information.

PocketMod - Pocket-Sized Organization on a Budget

PocketMod - Pocket-Sized Organizer on a Budget

Looking for a flexible, pocket-sized organizer on a budget? PocketMod may be just what you are looking for.

"The PocketMod is a new way to keep yourself organized. Lets face it, PDAs are too expensive and cumbersome, and organizers are bulky and hard to carry around. Nothing beats a folded up piece of paper. That is until now. With the PocketMod, you can carry around the days notes, keep them organized in any way you wish, then easily transfer the notes to your PDA, spreadsheet, or planner."

PocketMod is completely flexible allowing you to leave pages blank or insert included templates. PocketMod features a number of page templates, including:

• Lines
• Grids
• Table
• Story Board
• Music Sheets
• Daily Calendar
• Weekly Calendar
• Monthly Calendar
• Full-year Calendar
• Lists
• Shopping List
• Contacts
• Reference Pages
• and Much More!
  

PocketMod is available as a web application or as a download for Windows or Mac. PocketMod also offers a PDF to PocketMod conversion program for download.

You Can Take It With You Using PortableApps And USB Memory Drives

PortableApps.com has a great collection of software that can be run from a USB memory drive or USB hard drive. The software works without being installed on your PC. PortableApps also boasts increased security and privacy using these software packages as the files are all maintained on your USB memory drive rather than the host computer.

PortableApps offers quite a few popular programs, including:

• Nvu Portable (web editor)
• XAMPP (Apache, MySQL, PHP, PHPMyAdmin)
• Gimp Portable (graphics program)
• Filezilla Portable (ftp client)
• Mozilla Firefox (web browser)
• Mozilla Thunderbird (e-mail client)
• Audacity Portable (audio recordor/editor)
• Abiword Portable (word processor)
• OpenOffice.org Portable (full office suite)

PortableApps also offers the PortableApps Suite, a package that includes many of the most popular software applications available on the site.

For more information visit http://portableapps.com .

Portable Computing With USB Memory Drives

PC Stats has a good article series on USB memory drives. The series features 10 pages with some great tips on using USB memory drives. Tips include:

• Beginners Guides: USB Memory Drive Projects
• Boot Up With a USB Memory Drive
• Run Linux on a USB Memory Drive
• USB Portable Travel Kit - Portable Web Browser and Portable E-mail Client
• USB Portable Travel Kit - Portable Word Processor
• Using WinXP Briefcase to Sync Files to a USB Memory Drive
• Format a USB Memory Drive with NTFS File System
• Create Permanent Folders and Share Over a Network
  
• Use a USB Memory Drive to Take Your Favorite Media Player With You

This series is a great primer on the flexibility of USB Memory Drives as portable computing gear. The entire series can be read here.

2007 International CES Underway In Las Vegas

The 2007 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) is underway in Las Vegas. 2007 marks the 40th anniversary of the CES. The CES is billed as being the world's largest annual consumer technology tradeshow and America's largest annual tradeshow of any type. The show runs from January 8-11 this year.

With nearly 2,700 vendors from more than 130 countries this is the annual consumer electronics show to see. The CES spreads out across 1.6 million square feet of exhibit space and draws more than 140,000 visitors.

The 2008 CES is scheduled for January 7-10. For more information on the CES visit www.cesweb.org .

Sigg Water Bottles

Water bottles may not be the first idea that comes to mind when thinking of mobile gear. However, many people prefer to carry water, tea or juice with them rather than deal with the unreliability and expense of purchasing drinks on the road. There are many water bottles to choose from today but you may not have seen the Sigg water bottles yet.

I bought a new Sigg water bottle while I was shopping at Eastern Mountain Sports the other day. I was first attracted to the Sigg bottles because they are different and look rather cool. These bottles are actually quite light too. The one-liter Sigg bottle I bought is narrower than the Nalgene bottles I am used to using. This lets you carry your water bottle in some pack pockets that don’t accomodate the wider Nalgene bottles as well. Since the bottle is made of aluminum it actually keeps water cool longer than the lexan or plastic bottles.

If you are like me and are not familiar with Sigg water bottles here is some background. According to the company website, www.sigg.ch, Sigg Switzerland was started in 1908 and the bottles are sold in 40 countries worldwide. Sigg makes their bottles from a single piece of aluminum so there are no seams to leak. Sigg bottles also feature a lining that is resistant to fruit acids and isotonic drinks so you’re not limited to just water when you fill up. The inner lining is also designed to be elastic so dents should not damage the lining.

Sigg puts out a pretty cool water bottle for about $20. These bottles are available in several sizes and in many different colors and print patterns so you can have a bottle that is different from what everyone else is using!

High Gear AltiTech2 Makes Addition to Your Mobile Outdoor Gear

If you like getting off the beaten path then the AltiTech2 by High Gear is one pocket-sized piece of gear you may want to check out. The AltiTech2 integrates an altimeter, barometer, compass, thermometer, chronograph and watch all into an ultra-portable two ounce package. The AltiTech2 measures four inches overall but is actually about one-half tool and one-half anodized aluminum carabiner. The body is hinged where the carabiner meets the main tool body. The AltiTech2 features an EL backlight system and is water resistant to 10 meters. High Gear specifies a recommended retail price of $150 - well within the budget of many mobile gear lovers.

A partial feature list follows:

• Altimeter - The AltiTech2 features a digital altimeter with a working range of -2,305 feet to 30,045 feet. The AltiTech2 displays the current accumulated and maximum altitude in feet or meters with an altitude resolution of three feet. The AltiTech2 also features a graphic altitude trend display as well as storing up to 20 altimeter data readings.
• Barometer - The AltiTech2 includes a digital barometer that displays sea level pressure and absolute pressure. The AltiTech2's barometer has a working range from 300 mbar to 1100 mbar displayed in one mbar increments. The digital barometer also displays a bar chart detailing barometric changes for the past 24 hours.
• Compass - The AltiTech2's digital compass displays bearing in degrees and cardinal points. The compass features adjustable declination and a leveling bubble to increase accuracy.
• Thermometer - The AltiTech2's digital thermometer displays the current temperature in .1 degree increments in either F or C. The compass has a working range of 14 - 122 degrees F (-10 - +50C).
• Chronograph - The AltiTech2 includes a 24-hour chronograph with 1/100 second display.
• Watch - The AltiTech2's watch displays in 12 or 24-hour format and offers a dual time zone function. The watch includes a daily alarm and hourly chime.

The AltiTech2 makes a great piece of mobile gear if you are planning on heading out into the wilderness.

Zeiss MiniQuick Monocular Makes Great Pocket Optics

The Zeiss T* MiniQuick Monocular is a cool monocular in a very small, lighweight package. This particular monocular is 5 x 10 (5x magnification with a 10x objective lens). This might just make the perfect novelty gift for someone on your list this Christmas.

The 5 x 10 MiniQuick Monocular weighs in at only 0.8 ounces - light enough to put in your pocket and forget about. At only 4.5 inches high and equipped with a clip you can actually put the MiniQuick in your shirt pocket next to a pen. One more cool feature on the MiniQuick is the ability to use it as a pocket magnifier. Simply turn the MiniQuick around and look through the objective lens.

The MiniQuick affords the user a 300 foot field of view at 1,000 yards. The 2mm exit pupil may impact low-light performance but the MiniQuick is so light and easy to carry you are likely to actually have optics with you when needed rather than in the car or at home. For an all-around, handy monocular the Zeiss MiniQuick may be hard to beat.

The Zeiss MiniQuick is available from Amazon and other retailers.