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.