Prepare to be impressed. I recently popped one of the new Verbatim PhotoSave DVDs into my PC and almost couldn’t believe how perfectly it worked. In less than ten seconds the software that’s preloaded on the DVD launched, found 2576 digital photos, and offered to burn them to the disc with one click. So I clicked the button and less than five minutes later all of my digital images were backed up. It was simple, it worked perfectly, and there was nothing complicated at all. Why can’t everything work like that?

By the way, these DVDs could be the perfect gift for your somewhat less than technical relatives who have a digital camera but don’t really know too much about computers. After all, the way these work is so simple even a caveman could do it (sorry, I couldn’t resist). Oh, and reading this review probably took more time than backing up the photos.

Today’s video editing tools are really great. It’s become very easy to create a professional looking video from your video footage or even your digital photos. Most of the programs even include easy methods for you to grab audio from your favorite CD or to generate a music track automatically. With a little work almost anyone can feel like they’re an expert. But there’s a little problem (or two). (more…)

If you’re a public television fan you certainly know who Ken Burns is. His productions such as The Civil War have created a new term in the video editing arena which is called “the Ken Burns effect.” Basically, this is a technique where you use still photos in a video but you make them move, zoom, or otherwise create the illusion of motion.

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Pinnacle Systems http://www.pinnaclesys.com/PublicSite/us/Support/Consumer+Support/?viewDownload=1downl has a download for the PCTV HD Ultimate Stick.

In my office, I prefer the PCTV HD Card, but there’s no denying the appeal of a grab-and-go laptop and small antenna rig for accessing TV stations in the Boonies and Beyond. Some quick research tells me I could check weather reports in China. If I ever got there… if I spoke Chinese…, I just couldn’t recharge the laptop from a hotel electrical outlet; wrong voltage, boom! I don’t think a surge protector would help that one. Well, it might. Once.

Funny stuff aside, the weather’s getting positively weird, so TV programs and warnings could be vital. There won’t always be internet access. Pinnacle Systems’ nifty little stick won’t add much weight to the luggage. Take it along.

If you have the money to travel you probably have your share of gadgets, too.  Today’s review tells you about a handy little application that will make at least one of those gadgets into a more useful travel too. It may even save you from an embarassing situation!

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MP3 players, iPods, and fancy Smartphones make it easy to listen to your music on the go. Given the choice almost anyone would rather listen to some “good” music (no matter how you personally define that) than to some bozo who wants everyone within 25 feet to hear about his inane ideas regarding politics, religion, sports, or whatever. And even if you’re in a no-bozo zone, who wants to listen to the constant din of an airplane, train, or whatever background noise there happens to be?

But there’s just one problem with listening to your portable music player. Could headset wires possibly be any more inconvenient? They’re always in the way or catching on something, plus they make you look pretty strange, too.

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Travel is, after all, a good way to wring out some of the new products. When you’re at home and one thing doesn’t quite do the job it’s pretty easy to just grab something else. But when you’re on the road you’d better hope that you took the right things when you stuffed everything into that one carry-on bag.

Hope you have good summer travels. And I hope our reviews will make it just a bit easier for you to find some great travel companions!

Brian

A few months ago I tried out the Jawbone Bluetooth headset and loved it. The unit was sleek, it worked great, and the sound quality was wonderful. It was hard to imagine any way to improve it. Boy, was I wrong!

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Well, it’s getting close once again to gift giving season so naturally people start looking for goodies like digital cameras. But if you’ve tried this recently you’ve probably discovered that choosing a digital camera can be awfully difficult. There are so many choices and unless you spend all of your time on the subject it almost seems impossible to figure out what to buy. I’m going to try and give you a little help.

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