From Adventures In IT: The Case of the Psychotic Printer

Here’s a good story for a Friday afternoon!

Check out this  real-life tale from “Adventures in IT”, in which an IT worker plays “de-TECH-tive” in attempt to solve the mystery of a “possessed” printer.

The root of the problem will elicit laughs and eye-rolling!

Read it now…

Controversial Children’s Toy: ‘Baby’s First Cubicle’

“It’s all about expectation management, you see. If you make your kid think he can be president, he will grow up disappointed. Tell him he’s headed for a life as an office drone and at least he’ll be mentally prepared,” says Adam Frucci, author of this article on Gizmodo, pondering the possibility that this may just be “the most depressing toy ever.”

Is this akin to playhouses and Easy Bake Ovens–give the kids something that makes them feel grown-up like dad & mom? Or has it crossed the line into some kind of Kiddie Twilight Zone?

While it is really just an elaborate (and expensive!) computer station for tykes, one Gizmodo reader questions the point of such a toy when a child capable of using this gadget should presumably be able to operate a standard laptop or desktop computer.

Take a look at the features and functionalities (and price!) of this kiddie-cubicle on Gizmodo now.

Gadget Watch: I Scream, You Scream, We All Scream for the iPad!

Apple releases it’s latest must-have gadget–the iPad–in just 3 days!

The iPad is a “tablet computer”, similar in appearance to the new electronic readers such as the Kindle and the Nook, though in terms of functionality I have heard it aptly described as a “giant iPhone” (Get it? AP-tly? “There’s an ap for that…” Okay, it was a stretch.)

And while the iPad undeniably posseses that certain intangible gotta-have-it je ne sais quoi, I am still unsure as to why there is a market for a portable tablet computer. Isn’t that what laptops–and not to mention the iPad’s smaller ancestor, the iPhone are for?

Whatever your feelings on the iPad, the fact remains that this inexplicably craveable gadget will be hitting the shelves in T-minus 3 days and counting. Will YOU buy one?

Gadget-Watch: Electronic Readers…How Do They Stack Up?

First there were cell phones & laptop computers. Then hand-held gaming systems. Then portable MP3 & video players. Then mobile web devices. Which left people asking, “What will they think of next?”

Even though it’s not exactly front page news anymore, I just had to put in my two cents regarding the latest must-have gadget on the market–hand-held electronic readers like the Kindle from Amazon and the Nook from Barnes & Noble.

It’s amazing that even the simplest forms of entertainment–like reading–can be made easier/faster/more portable by modern computer technology. You may be thinking Seriously? What’s more portable than a book? How about a thin electronic tablet that can hold & display the contents of your entire bookshelf? Not only that, you can purchase new e-books directly from your hand-held device.

I recently had my first face-to-face encounter with one of these new e-readers–the Nook–and while I was suitably dazzled (and for a moment felt like I was living in an episode of the Jetsons) it got me wondering how the two brands compare.

In my research, I dug up this review by Rich Jaroslovsky at BusinessWeek. Jaroslovsky seems to feel that while the Nook outshines the Kindle in terms of features, its speed–or lack thereof–makes all the bells & whistles moot.

Read the full comparison here.

The Kindle, from Amazon

‘Scary’ Good Technology Tips for A Haunting Halloween…

In light of the weekend’s upcoming festivities (it’s Halloween, for those of you who haven’t checked your calendars lately), we did a little research regarding the technologies that help make this holiday one of the most frightening–and fun–days of the year.

This ‘Halloween Technology Roadmap’ from the experts at The Wolfstone Haunt explains how to achieve every kind of ghoulish effect your heart desires, from mood lighting to animated electronic props.

Curious how it all happens? Check it out now…if you dare.

A homemade Halloween Scene

No Strings (Or Cords!) Attached… – Wireless Charging Pad from WildCharge

The emergence of this product to the market could not have come at a more relevant time. One day I’m discussing the possibility of a ‘universal charger’ with a colleague (each of us practically giddy over the idea) and within a matter of days I see an ad for the WildCharger Pad from WildCharge.

And, yes. It is as cool as it sounds.

By outfitting your compatible devices with WildCharge skins, you can charge multiple devices at once by simply placing them on the WildCharger pad…all power-efficient & wire-free!

Check it out HERE.