Math Tricks for iPhone and iPod Touch

There are a few things that are always handy to break the ice with new people. The value of a few magic tricks can't be overstated. It doesn't hurt to have a few tricks that make you look smart too. Enter Math Tricks. Math Tricks gives you the ability to amaze and astound others with some easy to remember math quirks. Presented in a fun, straightforward chalkboard theme Math Tricks is worth checking out:

Review of the Chumby

Oh Chumby... We boxed you up early today, and already you're missed... You were like a My Buddy for the technorati. You sat there quietly offering all the info that was asked of you... We shed an e-tear with your departure.

If you're not familiar with The Chumby, well you're about to be.. While it's a squishy wishy piece of technology, we decided to make the case for it as a productivity tool. Check it out:

Review: Netgear SPH200W Wi Fi Phone with Skype

For a few weeks now I've been using the Skype with the Netgear SPH200W Wi Fi phone and my experience has been mixed. The phone retails for $150 and my purchase from Amazon was flawless (as usual).

My goal was to get a land line replacement (please note the phone does not support 911 dialing so it's not for emergency use) for use when my iPhone doesn't get reception (which is frequent in my home). I'm a previous Vonage customer so my quality expectation was the same as Vonage. Unfortunately quality is closer to poor cell phone reception. Seeing that I already have poor cell phone reception, this doesn't really add much value. In case your worndering I'm on Comcast high speed internet with an Airport Extreme Basestation. I also used the phone on Verizon FiOs with the same result.

The phone itself is pretty cool. Form factor is nice, menus are for the most part easy to navigate, and joining multiple wireless networks was easy. That's one of the best features of this system. The phone doesn't require a computer, only a wi fi network and a Skype account so if you travel you can take this phone with you, hop on a hot spot and make calls like you were at home.

With a Skype subscription you can make unlimited calls (fair use defines this as 10,000 minutes per month . . . if you're taking more than that you need a hobby) for $2.95 per month and for about another $5.00 per month you can get a phone number to associate with the account so everyone can give you a call. From a monthly charge perspective $10 / month is very competitive. The subscription to Skype also comes with voice mail.

I found it odd that the backlight on the phone stays dimmed when the phone is in the cradle. I would have thought the backlight would timeout to save on power (the phone is energy star compliant) and not look odd. When the phone is out of the charging base the backlight does time out.

All in all it's a cool concept, but quality of call is the show stopper. If call quality is important to you, look elsewhere.

First Look Hands-On With Esquire E-Ink Cover

If you head to your favorite magazine/book store today, you might notice something out of the ordinary: Did that cover just change?

The Esquire 75th Anniversary special edition magazine with e-ink embedded in the cover has just hit newsstands. At $5.99, hackers are sure to scoop these up.

A couple of notes for those looking to buy the magazine: At my neighborhood Barnes and Noble, I looked, and looked, and could only find last month's issue. Sulking, I was walking around the rest of the store, when I heard one employee say to the other, "Hey, is it a hologram?" "Yeah, I think so," the co-worker replied. I rushed over just in time to see the one co-worker disappear through a door, clutching a magazine.

I went back to the magazine section, and found the special edition in its own promotional stand. So keep a keen eye, shoppers!

It really is fascinating. It's hard to balance thinking "oh it's just flashing lights," with the fact that this could very well be a preview of the future of publishing. Give it a bit of a brain, and a wifi connection, and the possibilities are endless.

iRetrophone for the iPhone Video Review

You know how sometimes older folks go on and on about the "good ol days"? And how in reality they had it much harder? It took days to do the laundry... You had to get water from a pump! Well, we're about to let you in on a little secret: sure all of that may have been true, but they also got a little break each time they made a phone call. Rotary dialing could eat up minutes a day for the gabbiest amongst us. Now you can see just how much of your productivity would go out the window if you had to use a rotary dial thanks to iRetrophone for the iPhone: